A unique collaboration between the University of Auckland and an isolated valley community in Tairāwhiti Gisborne aims to reshape how the region confronts climate-related challenges.

Around 40 community members of a local iwi from Whareponga Valley, located in the Ruātoria region, travelled to the University this week for a series of educational workshops on 21 and 22 October.

Together with researchers and students from the Faculty of Engineering and Business School, the group are focused on developing sustainable technological solutions to tackle the valley's reliance on diesel generators for electricity and LPG gas for cooking and heating.

Recent extreme weather events, such as Cyclone Gabrielle, have made these issues more pressing by causing power outages, disrupting access to clean water, and damaging roads and infrastructure.

Professor Saeid Baroutian from the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering and Executive Director of the CIRCUIT Research Centre said the workshops were designed to empower community members through hands-on training.

“Our approach integrates mātauranga Māori with scientific innovation to create sustainable, resilient and self-sufficient solutions. The key aspects include developing renewable energy sources, creating circular waste management systems, designing water purification systems, and developing ecological and economical solutions for road construction.”

One of the workshops focused on converting the community's organic waste into valuable resources, such as biogas for energy and digestate for soil enrichment.

The community also explored using digital twins – virtual models that help improve the efficiency of energy use – as well as marine energy harvesting systems and water purification methods to ensure reliable access to clean water. They also examined soil stabilisation methods to strengthen roads, which is crucial for maintaining access to and from the valley.

The group also visited Manufacturing Systems Ltd’s site in Albany where they saw cutting-edge Kiwi technologies for solar energy, hydrogen energy and water quality monitoring.

Dr Kiri Dell from the Business School and the Whareponga community said that this is an exemplar model for how universities need to rethink what research impact looks like for Indigenous communities.

The project includes a transdisciplinary team of researchers from the Circular Innovations Research Centre (CIRCUIT), Energy Centre, Green Energy Engineering Centre (GEEC), Ngā Ara Whetū - Centre for Climate, Biodiversity & Society, Faculty of Engineering and Business School.

“By strengthening ties between the University and the local Māori community, the project underscores the importance of transdisciplinary partnerships in addressing the challenges posed by climate change,” says Baroutian.

The research team plans to continue supporting the community as they move forward. The next step is to work with them to prioritise the proposed solutions, co-develop and implement them, and continue offering educational programmes to ensure long-term success and community empowerment.