Submission on EPA App. 201955:Proposal to introduce the

Biological Control Agent (BCA) Tamarixia triozae to New Zealand

Dr Nick Roskruge, ChairmanTahuri Whenua Inc.

www.tahuriwhenua.org.nz

National group of

Māori growers

• Genesis in the taewa project

• Representative of Māori interests in

taewa and horticulture

especially vegetables

• Over 400 members nationwide

• Works to a strategic plan

Cultural restoration

• Capturing traditional knowledge around soils, plants and horticulture (& agriculture)• Restoring the relationship to the land• Reworking traditional tools

– kaitiaki, maramataka, soil management etc.

• Creating contemporary tools– decision systems, learning programmes etc.

• Restoration of knowledge to new generation

Future Māori directions through horticulture & agriculture

Economic and commercial opportunities

Education for our future generations who will be the land (and culture) managers

Integration of mātauranga Māori and contemporary knowledge & technology

Acknowledgement of Māori inputs to systems

• Kutu peke-ā-rīwai – especially on taewa– Other crops of interest including poroporo (Solanum

arvensis & S. nigrum), kūmara and many others

• Affects whakapapa

• Affects manaakitanga

Pragmatic approach required that supports our culture as well.

Impact on traditional crops

taewa / parareka / peruperu

A late addition to inventory

Replaced kūmara as primary crop

Now in home or marae gardens and commercial production,

Traditional inputs such as site selection, site management, crop rotations or pest & disease management

Raupi & Wherowhero varieties

Sample of main taewa varieties

Moemoe

Pāwhero

Karuparera

Huakaroro

Tutae-kuri

or Urenika

We did ask some questions – our members are rightfully cautious…

• Will the BCA fully mitigate the issue?

• Is the benefit to Māori (economy) quantified?

• Has response been modelled against climate change scenarios?

• What is strategic or integrated approach that this should compliment?

• WHY are Māori not included in pre-submission conversations/processes? – need to do better.

• Responses received –generally meets members interests.

• Still concerned that Māori not involved at right stages – early enough! Sharing pilot introductions etc. is after the fact really.

• Full IPM strategy still required. How does this tool fit with all the other options? We should know much more before the introductions.

Tahuri Whenua:

• Still has concerns over the introduction of any BCA into the natural ecosystem;

• Acknowledges the beneficial outcomes this BCA may bring;

• Recognises the need to weigh up negatives with positives (e.g. inability to manaaki v’s yields); and

• Wants the issues of early involvement to be noted on the record.

We therefore tacitly support the application with our reservations noted. Kei te mihi atu.

Kia ora

Thankyou

ngā mihi atu ki a koutou

and greetings to you all