This research seeks to identify mātauranga Māori-based approaches to understanding the problem of plastic pollution. Mātauranga Māori is a term often used to describe Māori approaches to generating knowledge and understanding, as well as all knowledge generated from within a Māori worldview. In his pioneering work Tikanga Māori, Hirini Moko Mead defines mātauranga Māori as a concept which “encompasses all branches of Māori knowledge, past, present and still developing. It is like a super subject because it includes a whole range of subjects that are familiar in our world today, such as philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, language, history, education and so on. And it will also include subjects we have not yet heard about. mātauranga Māori has no ending: it will continue to grow for generations to come." (Mead, 2003, p. 337-8).
This research utilized Participatory Action Research and Kaupapa Māori Research Methods to create a culturally grounded science education programme exploring microplastics pollution. Through a case study at an Aotearoa Special Character school, this research found that actively connecting scientific topics to Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) promoted Māori student engagement and understanding of complex topics. This connection must be continually affirmed and made relevant to the local Indigenous context. Connection to Te Ao Māori through te reo Māori (the Māori language), and pūrākau (oral histories) not only creates a positive learning environment but also improves the robustness of environmental science research in Aotearoa.
Research into microplastics and plastics pollution in Aotearoa would benefit greatly from an understanding of Te Ao Māori, and recognition of the responsibilities of Treaty Partners under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Similarly, policies and government actions on reducing plastics pollution must acknowledge the unique role of Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Knowledge in solving the plastics pollution crisis.