Researchers and children collaborating side by side
New Zealand's Ahi Pepe MothNet Project: Bridging Science and Culture
The New Zealand Government's Participatory Science Platform (PSP) has launched an innovative project called Ahi Pepe MothNet, which aims to engage local communities, including Indigenous groups, in monitoring and researching native moths and their ecosystems.
Led jointly by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry of Education, and Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, Ahi Pepe MothNet is a nationwide initiative that started in Dunedin. The rationale behind the Government's funding for this project is to inspire and engage the public in scientific research, fostering a deeper understanding of biodiversity and environmental health.
At the heart of Ahi Pepe MothNet is a commitment to integrating mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) with Western scientific methods. This collaborative approach seeks to create a richer understanding of New Zealand's native moths and their role in the ecosystem, viewed through a Māori lens.
Dr Barbara Anderson, a scientist, is part of the Ahi Pepe MothNet science team. Working with te reo Māori has helped Dr Anderson gain a Māori perspective on moths and ecosystems. The team's work has combined to strengthen and restore connections between culture and science.
The project encourages citizen involvement in moth monitoring, enabling community members to contribute data and observations that enhance the quality and scope of scientific research. Ahi Pepe MothNet uses internationally recognised moth-monitoring techniques and standardised equipment and reporting to help answer questions such as: How are New Zealand's native moths getting on? Where are they, and how do their distributions relate to the natural and changing environment across New Zealand?
One of the key questions the Ahi Pepe MothNet project asks is: Does vegetation restoration restore ecosystem connections? To answer this question, the science team has developed a national experiment with five steps: a question, a treatment, a control, a response, and replication.
Ahi Pepe MothNet is designed to inspire and engage students and others in the community. It has produced identification guides in te reo Māori and English, including Puka Whakamārama o Te Pepe Nui - Beginners' Guide to Macro Moths. The project has also received additional funding from various organisations, including Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Tumu, University of Otago, Department of Geography, University of Otago, Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Otago Museum, and New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge.
In schools, Ahi Pepe MothNet is contributing to quality science outcomes by igniting a passion for learning amongst children. For instance, Dr Robert Hoare and students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti are using a Heath moth trap to collect data for the Ahi Pepe MothNet project.
By bridging cultural knowledge systems and building meaningful connections between local communities and scientific research, Ahi Pepe MothNet is fostering stewardship and a deeper engagement with science and the environment in New Zealand. This project is a testament to the power of participatory science in creating a more inclusive, culturally sensitive, and robust scientific community.
[1] For more information on the integration of mātauranga Māori in Ahi Pepe MothNet, further research is recommended.
Contemporary educational initiatives, such as Ahi Pepe MothNet Project, are incorporating environmental science into the curriculum, fostering both self-development and knowledge about New Zealand's native moths and their ecosystems. The project's collaborative approach, integrating mātauranga Māori and Western scientific methods, serves as a model for cross-cultural educational programs in the field of environmental-science.
The Ahi Pepe MothNet Project, being a collaborative effort between various organizations, encourages education and self-development, providing resources like identification guides in both te reo Māori and English, thereby making environmental-science education more accessible to the wider community.
