Water security risks from responding to HPAI and other livestock emerging diseases

Identifying and mitigating the risks to groundwater and drinking water from mass carcass burial, directly contributes to Te Niwha’s mission. Our work will ensure that Aotearoa is better prepared to manage and mitigate the impacts of future disease outbreaks from emergency responses, both in the short and longer terms. We envisage that our project would lead to development of best practices and policy recommendations. Further, our approach will contribute to an emerging field of research internationally, showcasing Aotearoa’s international leadership, while delivering safe and culturally acceptable disposal practices. Dissemination of projects results are a priority, whereby we will actively engage with rūnanga and iwi about the risk, scope, methodology, analysis and findings. Workshops will be held with key stakeholders including MPI, Taumata Arowai, water suppliers and regional councils. We will work with Hokonui Rūnanga to inform papatipu rūnanga on project progress by regularly sending pānui. Project findings will be presented to the Te Niwha forum, iwi, and Pacific cultural leaders, and NZ and international conferences and ultimately published in an international peer-reviewed journal.