Freshwater restoration | Customary fisheries science & education | Community-led environmental monitoring
Environmental Management & Solutions
SUPPORTING HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS
Te Toi Taiao brings science into communities by using Mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge) with western systems.
We do this is by building effective relationships grounded in respect, reciprocity and genuine interactions.
Te Toi Taiao has evolved from a passion for restoring Papatūānuku to health and preserving her for now and future generations of all tangata whenua of Aotearoa
Te Toi Taiao specialises in all things freshwater – from the relocation of our native critters, the project management of freshwater developments and consultation on future proposals – all while combining Mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge) with western systems. Māori have long been the caregivers of this land and consultation with iwi can only enhance future growth.
Te Toi Taiao has a wide range of experiences and has grown skills that will benefit any organisation, primarily focused on building relationships and up-skilling people and communities to ultimately help themselves. Te Toi Taiao works with individuals, organisations, and communities from across the country.
Contact us about your next project, it costs nothing more to develop with an environmental conscience.
KIA ORA
WHAT WE CAN DO
Bringing people, knowledge and te taiao together.
From education and iwi engagement to freshwater restoration and investigation, Te Toi Taiao combines experience, science and Mātauranga Māori to help communities and organisations achieve positive environmental outcomes.
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Restoration & Investigation
Investigating freshwater environments and developing practical solutions to help restore and protect their health.
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Iwi Engagement
Supporting meaningful engagement with iwi by bringing Mātauranga Māori and western knowledge together.
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Education
Sharing knowledge and building skills through science education, environmental monitoring and community learning.
OUR PROJECTS
Our mahi in action.
From freshwater restoration and customary fisheries to science education and community-led monitoring, Te Toi Taiao has worked alongside iwi, communities and organisations on projects that bring knowledge, people and te taiao together.
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Raukawa Charitable Trust and Earth Sciences New Zealand
The Golden Clam has spread through parts of the Waikato River, from Lake Karāpiro to Lake Maraetai.
Te Toi Taiao works alongside Raukawa Charitable Trust, Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA), Iwi representatives, contractors and the Mangakino community to support annual monitoring in Lake Maraetai.
The week-long programme looks at the distribution and density of Golden Clam within the lake and helps build a better understanding of its spread and potential impacts.
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Cultural Monitoring
Te Toi Taiao works with Te Korowai o Wainuiarua, a Māori PSGE based in Raetihi, to provide cultural monitoring and oversight of contractors carrying out work that may affect the Taiao.
Our role is to help protect the health of the Taiao and identify and manage any potential impacts from project activities.
We work closely with Iwi and contractors to build strong relationships, support open communication and ensure cultural and environmental considerations are included throughout the work.
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Tūaropaki Power Company
Te Toi Taiao has undertaken ecological monitoring and reporting for Tūaropaki Power Company to support its resource consent requirements with Waikato Regional Council.
The work included:
Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling at six sites to determine the presence or absence of kōura (Paranephrops planifrons).
Watercress stream cover monitoring at four sites.
Laboratory testing of watercress tissue samples at four sites for arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg).
The monitoring provides information to support environmental management and ongoing resource consent requirements.
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Upper Waikato River Water Sampling
The Waikato River is a significant body of water to everyone. While some agencies already sample the Waikato River, they do not always make longitudinal data sets available online from multiple sampling sites as they are restricted to set sampling sites. They are also limited to how much sampling can be done longitudinally because they are using rate-payers money.
This project was designed to empower kaitiaki from upper Waikato River Marae while also building their capacity in the water sampling space. -
Te Huakirangi – Maori Science Summer School
The Te Huakirangi Māori and Pasifika Biology Summer School was a fun-packed week-long biology experience. This Summer School was open to Year 11 students who had an interest in science, and who will be going on to study biology in Year 12.
Te Huakirangi provided Year 11 students, with an interest in biology, the opportunity to experience areas of biology offered at the University of Waikato, and the way those areas are applied when studying the environment.
Throughout the week students undertook laboratory work, went on field trips, and participated in hands-on learning experiences. Students investigated astronomy, extracted DNA, and participated in field sampling activities.
Field trips went to world-renowned New Zealand tourist attractions. -
Kingitanga Day – Waikato University
Kingitanga Day is a day of celebration where the University of Waikato celebrates its unique relationship with the Kingitanga movement. Te Toi Taiao’s Director organised activities and presentations for the Faculty of Science and Engineering. In coordinating this event he liaised with and coordinated several presenters from industry and Crown Research Institutes over multiple successive years
MEET THE PERSON BEHIND TE TOI TAIAO
People and the environment have been used, abused, and taken for granted.
As such, this has led me to move into the contracting space where I can work with communities that I feel will genuinely benefit from my input.
I am eager to work with communities and the environment in a synergistic manner that promotes the development and deepening of reciprocal relationships.
I have a wide range of experiences and skills that can benefit any organisation primarily focused around building relationships and up-skilling people and communities to ultimately help themselves.
I have formal qualifications in Environmental Science and like to keep my finger on the pulse in my chosen field (Freshwater). However, I have not become siloed in my approach as I am also a qualified high school science teacher, experienced project manager/coordinator and community liaison.
Kevin Eastwood
MSc, GradDipT
CLIENT FEEDBACK
Testimonials
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“Kevin is a brilliant iwi liaison in the environmental sciences and has a genuine ability to inspire rangatahi.”
Nichola Harcourt, Kairangahau Maori and VM Manager, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
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“Kevin is a fantastic mentor, motivator and liaison. He brings the best out of people and empowers communities to reach new levels.”
Linda Peters, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology, Waikato University
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“Kevin encouraged my daughter to study Science at Waikato University. From the very first time we met Kevin we found him to be Whānau orientated as well as professional in his mahi. He inspired our daughter to follow her dreams and never give up, he mentored her during her first 2 years at Waikato University for that we definitely appreciated his commitment and Awhi. Last year she graduated with a Bachelor of Science double major in Environmental Biology she is now employed as a water technician with Hamilton City Council. I respect Kevin’s work ethics and passion for all that he does and would highly recommend him to anyone.”
Edwina Te Aho, Ngāti Rereahu
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“From the first day I met Kevin he has always been so friendly, approachable, and professional. Despite being the ‘new’ member to a research team that Kevin was a part of, he always made me feel like whānau, by greeting me with a smile and kōrero. His welcoming and receptive nature always makes me feel comfortable and important – no matter what the setting. I am truly grateful to know and be involved with Kevin and his incredible work.
Jade Gibson
Frequently Asked Questions
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It depends on what you would like done. Our work is varied and ranges across; stream and river monitoring, macroinvertebrate sampling and identification, cultural oversight for third party engagement, policy development, monitoring framework development, and consent monitoring.
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It depends on the job; however, we are very competitive when compared to large consultancies. We also use a sliding scale based on the complexity and scale of the job. For more information feel free to contact us.
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We are based in Taupō; however, we can travel around New Zealand depending on the scale of your contract.
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We will give you the focus that you deserve to meet your needs. We operate on the premise that no job is too small and will treat all clients equally, regardless of the size of the client or contract. Futhermore, when you call us you are guaranteed to speak with the project lead.
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Our main office is based in the North Island town of Taupō.
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We have worked with Iwi to clean up their local freshwater environment, prepare and compile reports, and design river sampling methods that are Iwi friendly.
We have also designed educational workshops where Iwi can send rangatahi (youth) to prepare them for university. Other work with Iwi includes developing cultural monitoring frameworks, environmental plans and policy, cultural oversight for specific contracts, and engagement with Crown organisations, universities, and NGO’s.
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While we provide a lot of support at grass-roots level, however, we are also experienced and oversight and project management.
MORE ABOUT OUR MAHI
Get in touch
Fill out the form or contact Kevin direct on:
0277 420 707 (0277 H20 SOS)
Currently operating from Taupō, alongside an extensive network of environmental ecology experts, to service your needs all across New Zealand
Projects of all sizes welcome.