
The Mauri Model
The mauri model is a decision making framework that combines a stakeholder assessment of worldviews, with an impact assessment of indicators to determine sustainability and trends over time. This tool uses the concept of mauri as the measure of sustainability, in comparison to the conventional monetary based assessment. The use of mauri as the measure of sustainability allows for a more accurate representation of the impacts of certain actions/options. These may not always be best represented or included in monetary based assessments of sustainability, but are nonetheless important to the decision making process.
The model measures mauri in four dimensions – environmental wellbeing (taiao mauri), cultural wellbeing (hapu mauri), social wellbeing (community mauri) and economic wellbeing (whanau mauri). Indicators are then chosen that represent the impacts upon mauri for each dimension. The impact upon indicators are measured using the mauriometer, a very intuitive system of sustainability determination which identifies the state of mauri and trends – giving the user the ability to assess several different potential options/scenarios and assess the relative outcomes and their impacts over time.
The mauri model is easily customisable to accurately model most situations, and simple enough to be understood and completed by the general public.

Taiao Exhibition at Te Papa Tongarewa
The mauri-o-meter is incorporated interactive exhibits at Te Papa Tongarewa in relation to fresh water.
Mauri is included in entry exhibit that features a carved takarangi (dual spiral) with hand sensors that increases the mauri of an alternating image (Ocean or Forest) depending on how many hands are laid onto the takarangi. The audience are invited to enhance the mauri life force represented in the image. The theme of mauri continues into understanding the present with reference to the personification in law of Whanganui and discussion of the mauri of waterways.
Mauri is explored in the 'Mauri Fridge'. The fresh water samples are contained in labelled plastic bottles in a glass doored fridge. The mauri-o-meter is explained and displayed on each sample indicating the mauri of the water. The measures of mauri have been calculated using a set of indicators and and the mauri dimensions are equally weighted for the score given. The audience is asked to guess the mauri of each sample based on appearance.
Selected Publications
For a full list of publication, visit Dr. Kēpa Morgan's Google Scholar Page.
Water Management
Peacock, B.C., Hikuroa, D.C.H., Morgan, T.K.K.B. (2012) Watershed-scale prioritization of habitat restoration sites for non-point source pollution managementt. Ecological Engineering, 42(2012): 174-182.
Kepa Brian Morgan, T. K., Sardelic, D. N., & Waretini, A. F. (2012). The Three Gorges Project: How sustainable?. Journal of Hydrology, 460, 1-12.
Morgan, T. K. K. B. (2011). Waiora and Cultural Identity: Water quality assessment using the Mauri Model. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 3(1).
Hikuroa, D., Slade, A., & Gravley, D. (2011) Implementing Maori Indigenous Knowledge (Matauranga) in a scientific paradigm: Restoring the Mauri to Te Kete Poutama. MAI Review, 2011, 3.
Morgan, T. K. K. B. (2008). The Value of a Hapu Perspective to Municipal Water Management Practice: Mauri and potential contribution to Sustainability Decision Making in Aotearoa New Zealand (Doctoral dissertation, ResearchSpace@ Auckland).
Morgan TKKB. Waiora and Cultural Identity: Water quality assessment using the Mauri Model. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples. 2006;3(1):42-67.
Restoring Mauri during the Rena Recovery
Morgan, T.K.K.B., Faaui (2018) Empowering indigenous voices in disaster response: Applying the Mauri Model to New Zealand's worst environmental maritime disaster. European Journal of Operational Research, 268 (3), pp 984-995.
Matauranga Maori and its contribution to the Rena Disaster Response
Morgan, T., T. Faaui, et al. (2013). Decision making at the Interface: Mauri and its contribution to the Rena Recovery. SCANZ
Cultural Indicator Use
Morgan et al. (2021) Towards best-practice inclusion of cultural indicators in decision making by Indigenous peoples.
AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous PeoplesMorgan, T.K.K.B (2020) Towards best-practice inclusion of the Indigenous in decision making. Presented at International Indigenous Research Conference, Auckland
McMillan, O.W.T., Morgan, T.K.K.B. (2020) Restoring Mauri to Contaminated Sites - Learnings from Rotoitipaku. Presented at International Indigenous Research Conference, Auckland
Sterling, E, Tamara, T, Morgan, T.K.K.B et al. (2017). Culturally Grounded Indicators of Resilience in Social-Ecological Systems. Environment and Society: Advances in Research. 8. 63-95. 10.3167/ares.2017.080104.
Voyde, E., Morgan, T.K.K.B. (2012) Identifying Commonalities Between Indigenous Values And Current Sustainable Design Concepts In Aotearoa, New Zealand. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Scholarship 8(2) 215-229
Morgan, T.K.K.B (2006) Decision-support tools and the indigenous paradigm. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering Sustainability 159
Student Projects
Impacts of Fracking on Indigenous Reservations in Alberta: Internship Report, Author: Manaia Rehu. Supervisor: Dr Kepa Morgan
Feek, A., Morgan, T.K.K.B. (2013) Mauri Model Assessment - Proposed Rotorua Eastern Arterial 4 Lane Highway Bypass
Media