Entry received from: Waikato Regional Council
Category: The Datacom Award for Excellence in Digital Local Government
Kauri are ecologically and culturally important to Aotearoa. They are one of the world's largest and longest-living tree species, known to reach up to 2000 years old, 50 metres high and over five metres in diameter. From a te ao Māori point of view, kauri health is a tohu (sign) of general wellbeing of te ngahere (forest) and te tangata (people). As a 'foundation species', kauri also sustain thousands of other flora and fauna. So protecting these mighty trees is critical. In 2022, the National PA (Phytophthora agathidicida) Pest Management Plan (NPMP) came into force, providing regulation for kauri disease under the Biosecurity Act. Under the NPMP, Biosecurity New Zealand established a management agency, Tiakina Kauri, to work in partnership with mana whenua, councils, government agencies and NGOs to deliver a co-ordinated kauri protection strategy.
Waikato Regional Council received MPI funding for multiple activities including marketing and communications. Using social, behavioural and environmental research, the council's kauri protection team identified the potential of virtual reality (VR) to instil a sense of hope for the future and promote the hygiene protocols and actions that will stop the spread of infected soil. Kauri Pou Kaitiaki is an immersive, cultural, spiritual and ecological experience that transports users deep into a virtual ngahere to inspire them to help protect kauri.
Thank you to our category sponsor