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Credit: Jill Scott NIWA 2018

Perceptions of risk and uncertainty

We are investigating people's perceptions of risk and uncertainty in the marine environment and how these different experiences can improve decision-making about marine resources.

Project LeaderDurationBudget
Paula Blackett (NIWA) & Shaun Awatere (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research)May 2020 – June 2022$852,100

Overview

There are many ways people understand and react to risk and uncertainty. These differences can be a source of conflict in decision-making, especially in the marine environment. Given the diversity of mātauranga Māori, values and preferences, it is not surprising that some decisions made about marine resources are contested.

But there is very little knowledge on the degree to which these perceptions of risk differ and how this affects decisions. Understanding the different perceptions of risks and uncertainty is crucial to building consensus around decisions, or at least appreciating why a decision has been made.

This research is taking a grounded (case study) approach with mātauranga Māori at its centre. This approach recognises that perceptions of risk are underpinned by many different ways of understanding and interpreting that risk. By comparing the different ways people perceive risk and uncertainty, we will be able to inform more inclusive tools, policies, practices and processes that can improve decision-making.

The aims of this project are to identify tools, frameworks or processes that:

  • can help make marine decision-making practices more inclusive
  • address both risk and knowledge uncertainty in a way that reduces risks to the benefits derived from marine resources
  • promote Māori rights, interests and values in tools, frameworks or processes.

Achieving these aims will contribute to our objective of enhancing the utilisation of marine resources within environmental and biological constraints.

Research Team

Paula Blackett (NIWA)
Shaun Awatere (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research)
Nikki Harcourt (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research)
Erena Le Heron (Le Heron Leigh Consulting Limited)
Richard Le Heron (Le Heron Leigh Consulting Limited)
Regan Fairlie (Manaaki Te Awanui)
Jade Hyslop (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research)

Related News

Related Events

Webinar: Navigating choppy waters - understanding perceptions of risk and uncertainty in marine management

Project proposal

309 KB | pdf

Location

This is a national project.

Tools & Resources

This project has produced or contributed to:

Seafood: Tools, resources and research
Summary
This is a research round-up of our tools, resources and research that support an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach to the seafood industry (July 2022)
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Kia aiō ngā ngaru, kia hora te marino: smoothing the waters in natural resource management to mitigate risk and uncertainty
Academic publication
Hyslop J, Harcourt N, Awatere S, Hikuroa D, Blackett P & Le Heron R (May 2023)
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A socio-ecological appraisal of perceived risks associated with mangrove (Mānawa) management in Aotearoa New Zealand
Academic publication
Le Heron R, Lundquist C, Logie J, Blackett P, Le Heron E, Awatere S & Hyslop J (July 2022)
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Quick guides: Navigating risk and uncertainty in marine management
Guidance
A series of five quick guides on navigating risk and uncertainty in marine management (November 2023)
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Understanding and communicating risk and uncertainty | te tūraru me te haurokuroku in marine management
Guidance
Blackett P, Awatere S, Le Heron E, Le Heron R, Logie J, Hyslop J, Ellis J, Stephenson F, Hewitt J, Ziedins I, Armoudian M, Bulmer R, Clark D, Gladstone-Gallagher R, Kainamu A & Rullens V (November 2023)
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Navigating choppy waters - understanding perceptions of risk and uncertainty in marine management
Presentation
Webinar presentation by Paula Blackett (NIWA), Shaun Awatere (Manaaki Whenua), and Joanne Ellis (University of Waikato), November 2023
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