Managing the risks of emerging contaminants-establishing a national strategy guided by Indigenous perspectives

Chemicals play an important role in maintaining our quality of life. Unfortunately, inappropriate chemicals and waste management result in the accumulation of contaminants in our environment that pose a risk to exposed biota and humans. Being cognizant of Indigenous knowledge and values within the management of chemicals and waste represent key components of environmental justice, but they are not being included in current global programs. Here, we describe the process leading to the development of an independent and nonpartisan national strategy to manage emerging contaminants in New Zealand that is reflective of Māori cultural perspectives. An inclusive partnership-based approach was used to capture a broad selection of views and perspectives to provide opportunities to engage with representatives from a range of sectors including scientists, members of the wider community, and Māori partners for the development of the strategy. A series of workshops was held over several years that helped refine the strategy document to ensure that it was fit for purpose with a clear implementation pathway to maximize uptake and achieve the inspirational shared vision. This initiative highlighted the need to invest significant time and effort up front to develop strong relationships across sectors required for success. All parties involved must operate with respect to ensure that advantages and reciprocity of all knowledge systems are recognized and valued to achieve objectives for chemical sustainability.