A Ngāti Kahungunu elder is praising the way the Crown research institute, GNS Science, has been engaging with her iwi over a climate change project happening in her rohe.
A series of wānanga or workshops are being held over the next six months to share knowledge about how Hawke's Bay is prone to rising sea levels, earthquakes and oil and gas exploration.
Aki Paipa, who attended a wānanga in November last year at Kohupātiki Marae, said although scientific terms can be complicated to understand, GNS has been conducting the sessions in a way most people can relate to.
"When we did the practical part of the workshops we went out into the field, and they [GNS Science] explained things that we could relate to," Mrs Paipa said.
"They explained about the different features of the land, what's happening to the whenua and what had happened in the past.
"I thought they did a really good job of helping lay people to get a glimpse of the scientific world."
Mrs Paipa is encouraging more of her iwi to attend the GNS workshops that will be held in Wairarapa.
A bird's eye view shows the Mohaka fault line, which runs through parts of Hawke's Bay Photo: Dougal Townsend, GNS Science
