Observing fungal diversity: The puāwaitanga of restored Wairarapa wetlands

This thesis investigates the relationship between Māori and fungi within the context of wetland restoration in Wairarapa. The research addresses two interconnected aims: firstly, to explore how Māori perspectives on fungi reflect and shape ecological knowledge, and secondly, to characterise fungal community composition across three wetland ecosystem states—unrestored, restored, and remnant. To address the first aim, interviews were conducted with seven tangata whenua connected to Wairarapa, recognising that interviewees hold unique mātauranga, which can be extended through engagement with fungal ecology. The second aim was approached using environmental DNA techniques, including soil sampling, PCR amplification, and DNA sequencing of fungal ITS primers, to identify fungal community composition across the different ecosystem states. A multi-methods approach, grounded in kaupapa Māori methodologies, braided Western scientific techniques with qualitative insights from interviews. The concept of puāwaitanga became a useful lens for interpreting restoration not as a return to historical conditions, but as a space of flourishing potential. In this context, the restored state reflects something new: neither fully remnant nor unrestored, but still rich in possibility. This was supported by the quantitative fungal community data (identifying 777 fungal ASVs across 86 soil samples), which showed distinct patterns across the three ecosystem states. The findings show that fungi serve as indicators of ecosystem health and restoration, while also being integral to Māori understandings of their relationship with the environment. Through this approach, the thesis aims to support restoration efforts aligned with tangata whenua aspirations for Wairarapa. This thesis also sought to support restoration efforts guided by tangata whenua aspirations, drawing attention to two key gaps. Although fungi are gaining recognition in ecological restoration, they are still mostly overlooked in frameworks centred on revitalising Indigenous food systems and forest resources. Additionally, restoration should be understood not only as ecological repair but as a pathway for re-establishing relationships with ecosystems in ways that enable the practice of mahinga kai. This thesis contributes to the ongoing revitalisation of mātauranga Māori by highlighting the importance of fungi in restoration and supporting efforts aligned with tangata whenua aspirations in Wairarapa.