There are 3 key reasons that prompted my interest in this topic. Firstly, indigenous biodiversity in Aotearoa NZ is declining at an unprecedented rate (Department of Conservation, 2017). Secondly, the current approaches to assessing conservation management are largely informed by Western knowledges with little to no recognition for Indigenous knowledges and values (Wehi and Lord 2017, Ens et al. 2021). Finally, species translocations are often focused on larger, more charismatic species (Griffith et al, 1989). For example, in Aotearoa NZ there has been a focus on translocating native birds and less attention on threatened plants or freshwater species.

Using the unique case study of Pua o te Rēinga, Dactylanthus taylorii, I will apply Kaupapa Māori Methodologies using a mixed-methods approach to understand the knowledges and values that inform taonga species translocations from an indigenous te ao Māori perspective. The outcome and impact of this study will help to resist the dominance of Western Knowledge approaches, and decolonise the thinking and implementation of decision-making in relation to species translocations.