News

He Ao Hou, New Future Murihiku programme well received in schools

Students from Windsor North Primary School, Invercargill busy putting together their hydrogen kits.

Since our July update, we have continued visits to Southland schools to explore green energy and hydrogen technology. The feedback and engagement from schools has been very positive. Dr David Warren from Chemistry Department of Otago University, has shared the activity within the University, resulting in University students taking up the opportunity to come along on Fridays. It has been great to have these students visit the schools and interacting with the next generation.

Visits will continue through to mid-September 2023.Assembling Hydrogen Kits at the 7th Day Adventist School, Invercargill.

Interest in the programme continues to grow. Tahu News recently visited Mataura School with us. Check out their news item here: Tahu News He Ao Hou.

Tahu News: Chemistry in action in Mataura.

He Ao Hou: New Future Murihiku is focussed on building a positive and hope-filled vision of the future and encouraging our young people to see themselves playing an active and vital role in our region. Our intent is to show young people that the technology exists to decarbonise our economy and build great opportunities for life and work in our region.

Te Ara Aukati Kore Programme Lead, Ivan Hodgetts said: “we have had a great response from schools and talking with teachers, there is strong interest in continuing these activities and more professional development like what we provided on 22 May. I’m now working with Dr Warren to develop future programme ideas.”

Dr Warren has enjoyed bringing Chemistry students with him to some of the school visits. If you are interested in technology and science and spending time with children, Teaching is a great career option. It’s where David started his career. Check out Otago Uni’s Invercargill Campus if you are thinking about a career in education.

Murihiku Regeneration acknowledges the generous support of sponsors and partnering agencies, noted below.Dr Warren with Otago Students at Waiau Area School. From left: Bronwen Dalley, Molley deGroot, Hayley Anderson and Thomas Patten.

Special thanks go to Otago University, Dr David Warren and Professor Sally Brooker (He Honoka Hauwai) for making He Ao Hou a part of their school outreach activities.

Posted: 3 September 2023

Launch of the First Indigenous-Led Antarctic Research Programme at International Conference

Tā Tipene O’Regan at the XIII SCAR Biology Symposium in Ōtautahi Christchurch. SCAR stands for the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research, a global science association.This week, the XIII SCAR Biology Symposium attracted leading Antarctic scientists from all over the world to the new Te Pae Convention Centre in Ōtautahi Christchurch. SCAR, or the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research, has held its conferences in New Zealand before, but this was the first time an entire half-day was dedicated to showcasing Māori exploration and research in the Deep South, including the official launch of the first indigenous-led Antarctic research programme in the world, Murihiku ki Te Tonga.

On a chilly morning, cold enough to remind everyone of their proximity to Te Tiri o Te Moana, an international audience listened with fascinated attention to Tā Tipene O’Regan as he outlined the concept of mātauranga. Knowledge and insight gained through careful study of the natural world was encoded in stories that served to order, store, and transmit information in the absence of the written word. Continuing this legacy of scientific inquiry, Ngāi Tahu are increasingly turning their attention south to Te Moana-tāpokopoko-a-Tāwhaki.

Dr Michael Stevens delivered a keynote address entitled, “Convergence Zones and Convergence Cultures: Ngāi Tahu and Southern Ocean World”Tā Tipene’s masterful exposition was followed by a waiata tautoko before the stage was turned over to Dr Michael Stevens and his keynote address elucidating the long-standing and intricate relationships southern Kai Tahu have with the islands and seas south of Bluff. He spoke of the cultural significance of the annual tītī harvest and how the synthesis of mainstream science and the muttonbirders’ careful records may be key to predicting one of the most important global climate cycles, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Archaeological research by Ngāi Tahu researchers established the presence of early Polynesian explorers in the Subantarctic Islands, defining the southern vertex of the great Pacific migration. Men from Rakiura were among the first people to travel to the Antarctic Continent, and Ngāi Tahu were among the whalers and sealers that explored the Southern Ocean long before modern science turned its attention to the region.

The morning session was concluded by a brief but fabulous kapa haka performance led by David Brennan, which was received with great enthusiasm by the audience.

David Brennan and his team provided a fabulous performance for the conference participants

Tane Karepa (DOC) speaks about the importance of mātauranga in a session chaired by Prof Sandy Morrison (University of Waikato)After a break for morning tea, it was time to look to the future and introduce the international Antarctic community to the research and monitoring programme initiated by Murihiku Regeneration for the Ross Sea Sector in partnership with Christchurch-based Heritage Expeditions. The official programme launch presentation was supposed to be delivered by Programme Director Riki Nicholas, but he was unfortunately unable to attend. Tane Karepa (DOC) kindly took on the task of delivering Riki’s presentation on the Murihiku ki Te Tonga programme in addition to his own talk on the relevance of mātauranga for conservation and science. The talks were followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Prof Sandy Morrison of Waikato University, to answer audience questions and highlight different aspects of the proposed new programme. The response from the Antarctic science community was overwhelmingly positive. Speakers and panellists were approached by many local as well as international researchers keen to learn more about mātauranga and to collaborate with Murihiku Regeneration.

Photos: R. Eisert

Dr Michael Stevens, Dr Regina Eisert, and Tā Tipene O’Regan at Te Pae Convention Centre

Posted: 4 August 2023

School visits start for He Ao Hou: New Future Murihiku programme

St Teresa’s School, Bluff - students fuelling their fan with hydrogen they made.On Friday 28 July, Murihiku Regeneration’s Ivan Hodgetts had the pleasure of visiting two primary schools with Dr David Warren from Chemistry Department of Otago University.Dr Dave Warren assembling hydrogen kits with Waihopai School students.

Ivan said “it was a hugely rewarding day. Seeing the interest and amazement on the faces of students when they start running a fan from hydrogen they created in the their classroom was fantastic. Dr Warren has a real gift for engaging young people in learning.”Ivan Hodgetts helping with hydrogen kit assembly.

He Ao Hou: New Future Murihiku is focussed on building a positive and hope-filled vision of the future and encouraging our young people to see themselves playing an active and vital role in our region. Our intent is to show young people that the technology exists to decarbonise our economy and build great opportunities for life and work in our region.

We visited St Teressa’s School in Bluff and Waihopai School, Invercargill.

Dr Warren steered the students through the assembly of the hydrogen making kits, where they used either a battery pack or solar power to create hydrogen. Students then timed how long the fan ran for. He also included exploration of the light spectrum, with students using coloured cellophane to explore how different colours impacted energy going from the solar panel to a fan. This allowed for a discussion of how solar panels use mostly green light - efficiency gains will come from expansion into red and blue spectrum.

Murihiku Regeneration Upoko, Terry Nicholas said “it’s great to see our team getting out to the schools and encouraging our tamariki, rangatahi and community, making visible the potential of renewable energy and opportunities that are coming in our region.”

We will be visiting a total of 22 schools in the Region over the next two months.

This programme could happen without the generous support of sponsors and partnering agencies and our Sponsors including noted below.

Special thanks go to Otago University, Dr David Warren and Professor Sally Brooker (He Honoka Hauwai) for making He Ao Hou a part of their school outreach activities.

Posted: 31 July 2023

Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan - Supporting the energy transition for the region

As a part of Murihiku Regeneration’s energy transition programme, we are pleased with the release of the Transpower and PowerNet discussion document around the development of a Murihiku-Southland Regional Development Plan.

“We are very pleased that Transpower, working with PowerNet, have kicked off this process. It speaks to the need for urgent action around the energy transition and decarbonisation.”

“They both spoke at our recent Energy and Innovation Wananga on 24 May, and have picked up on our comments for the need for infrastructure investment, based around a sensible plan that enables growth and economic and social development”, confirmed Terry Nicholas on the release of the initial discussion document.

Transpower has confirmed they have received 23 enquiries for new generation projects in the Southland and Southern Otago regions totalling over 4,400 MW recently. Almost 1,200MW has progressed beyond the enquiry stage. They have also received 18 enquiries for potential non-generation connections, such as load connections for new electrified process heat 10 of these are embedded within PowerNet’s network. This sort of interest requires coordination and alignment and good engagement with communities.

“We have been talking about the need to support new major energy projects that bring jobs, investment and create other opportunities for our communities. We will be taking this process seriously and support it as a part of our own programme of work.”

The process of creating a regional development plan links various businesses, community groups, iwi, local and central government to capitalise on the region’s abundant renewable energy resources, both to increase renewable generation and support the decarbonisation of existing industries, alongside supporting potential new growth.

For those interested in engaging here is a summary of the process.

Murihiku Regeneration wants to ensure that Transpower hears from the Murihiku-Southland community as its create its Regional Development Plan and will be supporting early discussions over the coming months.

We welcome your input to ensure that a wide view is considered. We have a workshop planned with them and key stakeholders on 17 August and we will update our comments after that meeting.

We encourage you to also reach out to Transpower at [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] to register your interest in being part of these discussions, and to share this document with others you know who may have an interest. Fir those of you who wish for us to represent or consider your views and inputs, please contact us at [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] or visit our website.

We also enclose the full discussion document release for you to download.

Key Contact Information:

• Transpower – [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]

• Murihiku Regeneration – [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]

Posted: 27 July 2023

Bluff Rangatahi Zone 2023 - Join our team of volunteers

Rangatahi Zone is an initiative by the Tuurama Trust to add some fun, healing, inspiration, and creativity to the Murihiku community. It will be a three day event over the next school holidays. Held across Bluff in free activities for young people from 10 to 18 years old.

The imitivates goals are as follows:

1. To uplift our Rangatahi

2. Provide fun activities that give our Rangatahi a chance to have a number of different experiences and connections

3. Show Rangatahi ways of looking after their emotions through Rongoa, Mahi Toi, and many other forms of expression

They are currently looking for volunteers for this year’s Rangatahi event so please have a look theres lots of different roles and activities that you or your organisation might be able to help with.

If you would like to join the team again, please fill in this form.

Dates: 26-28 September 2023, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (first week school holidays)

Times: 12noon – 5pm daily, Karakia at 11am for kaimahi

For more information on the event, look here at the Rangatahi Zone website.

Posted: 26 July 2023