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The narratives of under-represented groups and their connection to Antarctica remain poorly documented and acknowledged in the research literature. This paper begins to fill this gap. Our exploration of Māori connections to Antarctica details first voyagers through to involvement in recent science projects, as well as representations of mātauranga in carving and weaving. This exploration begins to construct a richer and more inclusive picture of Antarctica's relationship with humanity. By detailing these historical and contemporary connections, we build a platform on which much wider conversations about New Zealand relationships with Antarctica can be furthered. More than this, however, we create space for other under-represented groups and peoples to articulate their narratives of connection to the southern land- and sea-scapes. In so doing, we provide significant first steps for uncovering the rich and varied ways in which Antarctica features in the lives and futures of indigenous and other under-represented communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiore (Pacific rat; Rattus exulans) is both a target for eradication and a taonga or highly valued species in New Zealand, and its abundance and distribution vary considerably throughout the country. We investigated reports of an abundant kiore population on Slipper Island (Whakahau), off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, in March 2017. We trapped kiore to examine their distribution across a range of habitats with varying degrees of human activity. Kiore were captured in all habitats, with particularly high abundance at a campground with a fruiting fig tree (50 kiore per 100 trap nights corrected for sprung traps). We found no evidence of other rat species; Slipper Island appears to remain one of few New Zealand islands with kiore but without ship rats (Rattus rattus) and Norway rats (R. norvegicus), the two other rat species present in New Zealand. Slipper Island potentially provides opportunities to research kiore behaviour and population dynamics in a New Zealand commensal environment, and genetics of an isolated island population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of the Maori language and oral tradition to scientifically analyze the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). It cites the importance of the use of oral traditions as a source of information in the analyzation of TEK. It presents as example the Kia Mau Te Titi Mo Ake Tonu Atu (Keep the Titi Forever) project to show that TEK analyzation can be both tough and time-consuming.

We review the biosystematics, chemistry, phenology, ecology, and cultural and economic uses of Phormium tenax, a widespread iconic New Zealand monocotyledon. Phormium tenax is endemic to New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and the Chatham Islands, and is distinguished from the sole other member of the genus, P. cookianum, by its erect trigonous seed capsules and red flowers, despite incomplete barriers to hybridisation. Flowers produce abundant nectar and are bird pollinated. Seed is orthodox and tolerates drying, while chilling overcomes dormancy. Rich, well-drained alluvial and organic soils encourage abundant growth in P. tenax but prolonged flooding and drought reduce growth and survival. Lack of tolerance to both frost and low mean annual temperatures distinguish its environmental niche from that of P. cookianum, but further research is required to characterise these differences more accurately. Phormium tenax is a significant component of vegetation on coastal cliffs, slopes, and dunelands; in estuarine shrublands; and lake margin and freshwater communities. Wide morphological variation in Phormium has led to cultivar development by Maori for weaving and by horticulturalists for ornamental garden use. Phormium tenax is important in many ecological communities as a food source, and is often used in restoration and revegetation plantings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]