ABSTRACT

Aotearoa (New Zealand) is a group of geographically remote islands situated upon active tectonic systems that are already observing the impacts of climate change. Disasters, both natural and human-related, continue to exacerbate the precarity of the social and physical systems which support societal functions of Aotearoa. The adverse impacts are not evenly distributed throughout society; marginalised communities are inherently more vulnerable. In Aotearoa, a large part of societal vulnerability is dictated by the role colonisation has played in deteriorating the relationships which support communities, their identities, wellbeing, sense of belonging, and consequently their innate resiliency, particularly for Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa).