September 18, 2014
Boost for Maori science
A project by Aotearoa Fisheries to boost its research capacity and one by Parihaka residents Papakainga Trust to increase energy efficiency in the historic Taranaki community are among 13 new projects to be funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Te Punaha Hihiko Vision Matauranga Capability Fund.
The Government has just put a further $1.8 million into the fund, which was set up to increase the science and innovation potential of Maori knowledge, resources, and people.
The Parihaka Papakianga Trust will work with a team from Massey University to explore low energy housing and ways to generate and store electricity.
The Massey team has done similar rural energy projects in Totara Valley, Stewart Island and the Maori community of Wharekahika-Hicks Bay.
Aotearoa Fisheries is also working with Massey to build up research capacity, which has until now been lacking at the pan-Maori fishing company.
It wants to transfer some of the lessons from Iceland, which transformed its fishing industry by using technology to add value to products.
And Plant and Food Research has a project with mussel farmer Kono Seafoods, which is owned by top of the south Island iwi, to develop high value lipids for dietary supplements or remedies.
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