Over 120 Māori leaders and officials from all over the country have attended the inaugural Māori Leaders Climate Summit calling for a whole society response to climate crisis.
On March 25, representatives of Iwi runanga, Hapū and Whānau, forestry and fishing corporations, landholding companies, trade unions, private business and social enterprises, along with public health experts and climate and social scientists gathered in Wellington with a unified call for climate action.
On the second day, representatives from regions across the country shared emergency planning and climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
“While day one laid out the stark reality of climate change, the hui was full of positive responses to the information and experience sharing and there was a general agreement that urgent action is required to avoid a climate crisis,” hui co-convenor Hinekaa Mako said. “It is obvious that there is an immediate need for an ongoing process of planning and preparations as our society faces a climate-challenged future.”
Knowing there will be more extreme weather events in the future, Mako said Māori communities, especially marae whanau, will continue to provide support and shelter during storms like the recent cyclones.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw and the New Zealand Climate Change Ambassador Jo Tyndall, along with representatives of the Prime Ministers department and other senior Māori public service officials were also present at the summit.
“We are encouraged by recent signals from the Prime Minister that our government is preparing to begin transitioning away from fossil fuels towards a zero carbon economy,” he added.
The hui concluded the summit with a unanimous call for a whole of society response to climate crisis to be implemented. This included:
