Mere Takoko

Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Waikato

Tonganui Scholarship Recipient 2024

Mere’s continued PhD research seeks to unlock the potential of whale conservation and blue carbon habitat restoration as part of a large-scale trophic rewilding project across the Polynesian triangle.

Mere TakokoMere’s moemoeā…

He Whakaputanga Moana: Unlocking the Ocean’s Potential for Indigenous Communities

My vision is a Pacific where whales (tohorā) and other taonga moana flourish alongside empowered Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). Guided by ancestral wisdom and empowered by science, IPLC’s will lead the sustainable management of their ocean resources. The He Whakaputanga Moana Ocean Declaration, which confers legal personhood upon whales, will serve as a cornerstone in achieving this vision. My PhD research aims to help unlock the potential of whale conservation and blue carbon habitat restoration as part of a large-scale trophic rewilding project across the Polynesian triangle, providing a pathway for IPLC’s to create a sustainable future where both people and the planet thrive.

This funding will enable me to extend my PhD research period by six months, providing critical time to advance the following:

  • Strengthening Indigenous Leadership: Formalising partnerships with the Houses of Ariki & welcoming the new Māori Queen as a patron, solidifying Indigenous governance in ocean conservation.
  • Global Collaboration: Deepening engagement with King Charles III’s climate initiative, the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, and the HRH Princess Reema of Saudi Arabia, showcasing Pacific leadership on the world stage and fostering international cooperation on blue carbon solutions.
  • Whale Legal Personhood Pilot Projects: Designing innovative, Indigenous-led projects in partnership with Simmons & Simmons (UK) and Ocean Vision Legal (USA) that demonstrate the potential of recognizing whales’ legal rights, aligning with my PhD research.
  • Produce a feature-length documentary that will showcase the whale legal personhood project, highlighting the role of traditional Polynesian voyaging in ocean conservation.