Research interests
Garth Harmsworth is a senior environmental scientist based in Palmerston North and has worked for Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research since 1992. His professional career spans over 38 years in resource management, land resource assessment, national environmental databases, GIS applications, and indigenous research. Garth pioneered much of the Māori led research in Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research Ltd., working on a wide range projects with Māori organisations, Government agencies, regional councils, industry, and communities throughout New Zealand, particularly in the areas of land use planning, ecosystem health, bio-physical and cultural indicators, restoring indigenous landscapes, climate change, sustainable iwi/hapū resource management, building Māori research capability, collaborative learning, and indigenous Māori knowledge and values.
Major achievements and publications reflect an in-depth relationship and extensive networking during his career, work in over 50 science and Māori research projects, presented at over 100 conferences and workshops, produced over 100 refereed publications, and led a large number of consultancies/supply of information to staff in a range of organisations throughout Aotearoa-New Zealand.
Qualifications
Waikato
MSc (Hons) Earth Sciences
1983
Waikato
BSc Earth Science & Botany
1981
Publications
Tadaki M, Astwood JR, Ataria J, Black M, Clapcott J, Harmsworth G, Kitson J Early Access Mar 2022. Decolonising cultural environmental monitoring in Aotearoa New Zealand: Emerging risks with institutionalisation and how to navigate them. New Zealand Geographer. WOS:000775695200001 https://doi.org/10.1111/nzg.12325
Kirk N, Robson-Williams M, Bammer G, Foote J, Butcher L, Deans N, Harmsworth G, Hepi M, Lilburne L, Nicholas B, Small B, Turner JA, Young J Early Access Aug 2021. Where to for collaboration in land and water policy development in Aotearoa New Zealand? Guidance for authorising agencies. Kotuitui-New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online. WOS:000683417600001 https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083x.2021.1956979
Stevenson BL, N.; Kannemeyer, R.; Drewry, J.; Harmsworth, G.; Schon, N. 2022. Soil Health Factsheet: What is soil health? . Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. .
Procter J, Harmsworth G 2021. He Tatai Whenua: towards developing a Maori landscape classification framework. In: Hill C ed. Kia Whakanuia te Whenua: people, place, landscape. [New Zealand], Mary Egan Publishing. Pp. 258-268
Dymond JR, Sabetizade M, Newsome PF, Harmsworth GR, Ausseil AG 2021. Revised extent of wetlands in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 45(2). WOS:000684942600006 https://doi.org/10.20423/nzjecol.45.32
Sevicke-Jones G, Carrick S, Harmsworth G 2021. Towards a national strategy for soil. Pūtaiao - Manaaki Whenua science summary. Lincoln, NZ, Manaaki Whenua. Pp. 16. https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/putaiao/
Harmsworth G 2020. Oneone Ora, Tangata Ora: soils and Māori health and wellbeing. 2 2 In: Hutchings J, Smith J ed. Te Mahi Oheone Hua Parakore: a Māori soil and sovereignty and wellbeing handbook. Christchurch, New Zealand, Freerange Press. Pp. 28-43
Harmsworth G, Stevenson B 2020. Defining soil health from a Māori world view. Soil Horizons. https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/soil-horizons/soil-horizons-articles/defining-soil-health-from-a-maori-world-view/
Stronge DC, Stevenson BA, Harmsworth GR, Kannemeyer RL 2020. AWell-Being Approach to Soil Health-Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand. Sustainability 12(18). WOS:000584284600001 https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187719
Hutchings J, Smith J, Taura Y, Harmsworth G, Awatere S 2020. Storying kaitiakitanga : exploring kaupapa Māori land and water food stories. MAI Journal (Online) 9(3): 183-194.
Harmsworth G 2019. [Panel Discussion] Healthy land, water and people: indigeneity, relationshios and planetary health. Proceedings: IUHPE 23rd World Conference on Health Promotion, Rotorua, New Zealand, 7-11 April 2019.
Kannemeyer R, Stevenson B, Harmsworth G 2019. Soil Matters: Whakahirahira te mana o te oneone. Soil Horizons. https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/soil-horizons/soil-horizons-articles/soil-matters/
Procter J, Kenney C, Black T, Harmsworth G, Saunders W, King D, Awatere S, Potangaroa R 2018. [Abstract] Methods to build resilience in indigenous communities: A case study from Maori, New Zealand. Proceedings: European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 8-13 April 2018. https://www.egu2018.eu/
Roudier P, Lilburne L, Ausseil A-G, Grealish G, Stevenson B, Carrick S, Manderson A, Greenhalgh S, Harmsworth G, Kalaugher E 2018. Towards a preliminary assessment of the soil security dimensions in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Proceedings: Soil Security and Planetary Health Conference - 3rd Global Security Conference, Sydney, Australia, 4-6 December 2018. https://www.sydney.edu.au/content/dam/corporate/documents/sydney-institute-of-agriculture/outreach-engagement/soil-security-and-planetary-health-conference/Soil%20Security%20and%20Planetary%20Health%20Conference%20Program.pdf
Harmsworth G 2018. Soil security: an indigenous Māori perspective from Aotearoa New Zealand. Proceedings: Soil Security and Planetary Health Conference - 3rd Global Security Conference, Sydney, Australia, 4-6 December 2018. https://www.sydney.edu.au/content/dam/corporate/documents/sydney-institute-of-agriculture/outreach-engagement/soil-security-and-planetary-health-conference/Soil%20Security%20and%20Planetary%20Health%20Conference%20Program.pdf
Harmsworth G 2018. A Te Ao Māori perspective of ecosystems to explore complex multi-faceted issues and challenges in One Health. Proceedings: 4th One Health Aotearoa Symposium 2018, Wellington, New Zealand, 12-13 December 2018. https://onehealth.org.nz/2018-oha-symposium/
Reihana K, Taura Y, Awatere S, Wilcox M, Harmsworth G 2018. Wai Ora - a kaupapa Māori assessment tool Proceedings: New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society Conference: 'Integrating multiple aquatic values', Hamilton, New Zealand. http://imav2017.com/ , type = Conference Proceedings
Harmsworth G 2017. Indicators for cultural resources. In: Taura Y, van Schravendijk-Goodman C, Clarkson B ed. Te reo o te repo, the voice of the wetland: connections, understandings and learnings for the restoration of our wetlands. Hamilton, New Zealand, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research and Waikato Raupatu River Trust. Pp. 51–55
Awatere S, Harmsworth G, Robb M 2017. Mātauranga Māori/Māori knowledge. In: Taura Y, van Schravendijk-Goodman C, Clarkson B ed. Te reo o te repo, the voice of the wetland: connections, understandings and learnings for the restoration of our wetlands. Hamilton, New Zealand, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research and Waikato Raupatu River Trust. Pp. 151–154
Gabrielsen H, Procter J, Rainforth H, Black T, Harmsworth G, Pardo N 2017. Reflections from an indigenous community on volcanic event management, communications and resilience. [early view online]. Advances in Volcanology. Berlin, Heidelberg, Springer. Pp. 1-17https://doi.org/10.1007/11157_2016_44
Sinner J, Kilvington M, Greenhalgh S, Vattala D, Bowen T, Matthews A, Watts J, Ide G, Sevicke-Jones G, Dawe A, Tait B, Bannister R, Baker M-A, Allen D, Lourey R, Harmsworth G, Fenemor A, Awatere S, Davies-Colley R, Tadaki M, Brown P, Berkett N 2017. Riding the wave of change: reflections on the evolution of freshwater management in New Zealand. Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua Policy Brief no. 20, Landcare Research. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/143822/policy-brief-20-riding-the-wave.pdf
Ausseil AGE, Bodmin K, Daigneault A, Teixeira E, Keller ED, Baisden T, Kirschbaum MUF, Timar L, Dunningham A, Zammit C, Stephens S, Bell R, Cameron M, Blackett P, Harmsworth G, Frame B, Reisinger A, Tait A, Rutledge D 2017. Synthesis report RA2, lowland case study. Climate Changes, Impacts and Implications for New Zealand to 2100. 57 p. http://ccii.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/RA2-Lowland-Case-Study-Synthesis-report.pdf
Collier KJ, Clearwater SJ, Harmsworth G, Taura Y, Reihana K 2017. Physical and chemical attributes affecting survival and collection of freshwater mahinga kai species. ERI Report no. 106. Environmental Research Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Waikato. 65 p. https://www.waikato.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/391615/ERI_Report_106.pdf
Stevenson B, Harmsworth G, Kalaugher E 2017. [Poster] How indigenous values shaped a successful multi-year soil health programme in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Proceedings: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, New Orleans, USA, 11-15 December 2017. https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session26060
Harmsworth G 2017. Casting a kaupapa Māori lens over One Health to explore synergies for collaboration. Proceedings: One Health Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand, 13-14 December 2017. https://onehealth.org.nz/research/2017-one-health-aotearoa-symposium/
Reihana K, Taura Y, Awatere S, Wilcox M, Harmsworth G 2017. Wai Ora - a kaupapa Māori assessment tool. Proceedings: New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society Conference: 'Integrating multiple aquatic values', Hamilton, New Zealand, 19-24 November 2017. http://imav2017.com/
Taura Y, Reihana K, Awatere S, Harmsworth G, Forrest E 2017. Wai Ora Wai Maori - a kaupapa assessment tool for Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. 8 p.
Awatere S, Robb M, Taura Y, Reihana K, Harmsworth G, Maru J, Watene-Rawiri E 2017. Wai Ora Wai Māori - a kaupapa Māori assessment tool. Insights for government, councils, and industry.
Hudson M, Collier K, Awatere S, Harmsworth G, Henry J, Quinn J, Death RG, Hamilton DP, Te Maru J, Watene-Rawiri E, Robb M 2016. Integrating indigenous knowledge and freshwater management: an Aotearoa/New Zealand case study. The International Journal of Science in Society 8(1): 1–14.
Ausseil AGE, Bodmin K, Daigneault A, Teixeira E, Keller ED, Kirschbaum MUF, Timar L, Dunningham A, Zammit C, Stephens S, Cameron M, Blackett P, Harmsworth G, Frame B, Reisinger A, Tait A, Rutledge D 2016. Climate change impacts and implications: an integrated assessment in a lowland environment of New Zealand. In: Sauvage S, Sánchez-Pérez JM, Rizzoli AE ed. Proceedings: 8th International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs), Toulouse, France, July 10–14, 2016. Pp. 1132–1139. http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/iemssconference/2016/Stream-D/76/
Tipa G, Harmsworth GR, Williams E, Kitson JC 2016. Integrating mātauranga Māori into freshwater management, planning and decision-making. In: Jellyman PG, Davie TJA, Pearson CP, Harding JS ed. Advances in New Zealand freshwater science. New Zealand Hydrological Society & New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society. Pp. 613–637
Harmsworth G, Awatere S, Robb M 2016. Indigenous Māori values and perspectives to inform freshwater management in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Ecology and Society 21(4): 9. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08804-210409
Scheele S, Carswell F, Harmsworth G, Lyver PO, Awatere S, Robb M, Taura Y, Wilson T 2016. Reporting environmental impacts on Te Ao Māori: A strategic scoping document. Landcare Research. 56 p.
Sinner J, Harmsworth G 2015. Māori and collaborative freshwater planning: emerging insights. Cawthron Report ; no. 2647. Cawthron Institute. 16 p. http://www.cawthron.org.nz/publication/science-reports/maori-and-collaborative-freshwater-planning-emerging-insights/
Sinner J, Harmsworth G 2015. Māori involvement in collaborative freshwater planning - insights from Hawke's Bay. Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua Policy Brief no. 10, Landcare Research. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/84692/Policy-Brief-10-Collaborative-Freshwater-Planning-Insights-from-Hawkes-Bay.pdf
Gregory B, Wakefield B, Harmsworth G, Hape M, Heperi J 2015. Te Hā o Te Wai Māreparepa “The Breath of the Rippling Waters”: Mauri Monitoring Framework pilot study on the Papanui Stream. 69 p. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/87394/Mauri_Monitoring_Framework.pdf
Robb M, Makey L, Awatere S, Harmsworth G 2015. [Abstract] Bicultural methods for biodiversity measurement and monitoring. Proceedings: New Zealand Ecological Society Conference 2015, Christchurch, N.Z., 16-19 November 2015. Pp. 4. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/93594978/NZES%20abstracts%20booklet%20WEB.pdf
Harmsworth G, Awatere S, Robb M 2015. Māori values and perspectives to inform collaborative processes and planning for freshwater management. Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua Policy Brief no. 14, Landcare Research. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/111042/PB_14_Maori_Values_Perspectives.pdf
Harmsworth G, Roskruge N 2014. Indigenous Māori values, perspectives and knowledge of soils in Aotearoa-New Zealand: beliefs and concepts of soils, the environment, and land. In: Churchman GJ, Landa ER ed. The soil underfoot: infinite possibilities for a finite resource. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press. Pp. 111–126
Harmsworth G, Roskruge N 2014. Indigenous Māori values, perspectives and knowledge of soils in Aotearoa-New Zealand: Māori use and knowledge of soils over time. In: Churchman GJ, Landa ER ed. The soil underfoot: infinite possibilities for a finite resource. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press. Pp. 257–268
Harmsworth G 2014. Māori and public health: working in partnership to manage freshwater resources. Proceedings: New Zealand Population Health Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 6-8 October 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/2.1.1564.4160
Harmsworth G, Awatere S, Procter J 2014. Meeting water quality and quantity standards to sustain cultural values. Proceedings: 21st Century Watershed Technology Conference and Workshop: Improving Water Quality and the Environment, Hamilton, New Zealand, 3-6 November 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.13031/wtcw.2014-016
Harmsworth G, Awatere S 2013. [Abstract] Māori knowledge systems, networks and actions for climate change. Proceedings: New Zealand Climate Change Conference 2013, Palmerston North, 4-5 June 2013. http://www.nzcccconference.org/images/custom/harmsworth,_garth_-_maore_knowledge.pdf
Harmsworth G, Awatere S 2013. Māori knowledge systems, networks and actions for climate change. http://www.nzcccconference.org/images/custom/harmsworth,_garth_-maori_-_ok.pdf.
Cronin K, Greenaway A, Harmsworth G, Frame B 2013. [Abstract] ‘Igniting Social Knowledge on Climate Change’: urgent deadline, slow fuse. Proceedings: New Zealand Climate Change Conference 2013, Palmerston North, 4-5 June 2013. http://www.nzcccconference.org/images/custom/cronin,_karen_-_igniting_social_knowledge.pdf
Awatere S, Harmsworth G, Rolleston S, Pauling C 2013. Kaitiakitanga o ngā ngahere pōhatu - kaitiakitanga of urban settlements. 10 10 In: Walker R, Jojola T, Natcher D ed. Reclaiming indigenous planning. McGill-Queen's native and northern series ; 70. Montreal, McGill-Queen's University Press. Pp. 236–259
Harmsworth G, Awatere S 2013. Māori values approaches for setting freshwater limits. Landcare Research Link. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/64194/Maori-Values-Approaches-for-Setting-Freshwater-Limits.pdf.
Harmsworth G, Awatere S, Pauling C 2013. Using mātauranga Māori to inform freshwater management. Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua Policy Brief no. 7, Landcare Research. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/64032/policy-brief-maori-freshwater-management.pdf
Harmsworth GR, Awatere S 2013. Indigenous Māori knowledge and perspectives of ecosystems. In: Dymond JR ed. Ecosystem services in New Zealand: conditions and trends. Lincoln, New Zealand, Manaaki Whenua Press. Pp. 274–286
Harmsworth G, Awatere S 2013. Review and evaluation of cultural monitoring approaches in New Zealand. Landcare Research Fact Sheet, Landcare Research. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/77680/Review_Cultural_Monitoring.pdf
Memberships
- Member, Māori Managers and Senior Māori Scientists in CRIs, Te Ara Putaiao (TAP)
- StatsNZ, Member, Māori Advisory Committee, Statistics New Zealand
- International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP), Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ)
- Reappointed to the Statistics New Zealand Maori Advisory Committee (MSAC), Statistics New Zealand
- Environment Maori Expert Group - Stats NZ Invited onto the ‘Maori subject matter expert group for the Domain plan for the Environment’ , Statistics New Zealand
- Member, NZ Geospatial Research and Development Advisory Group (LINZ) , New Zealand Geospatial Research and Development Advisory Group (LINZ)
- Member, Environment, Community and Health Observatory (ECHO) Network (Canada/Alaska/USA/Hawaii-NZ), Member, Environment, Community and Health Observatory (ECHO) Network (Canada/Alaska/USA/Hawaii-NZ)
- Member “Geospatial tools for ECHO” (GECHO) Network (Canada/Alaska/USA/Hawaii-NZ), University Northern British Columbia, Canada
- IGBP NZ Committee Member, Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ) International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP)
- Member of the MfE Freshwater Technical Advisory Group, Ministry for the Environment's National Environmental Monitoring and Reporting (NEMaR)
- Member, Wetlands Technical Advisory Group, National Environmental Monitoring and Reporting programme (NEMaR), Ministry for the Environment
- Member Manawatu River leaders advisory science/matauranga Maori panel, Manawatu River leaders advisory science/matauranga Maori panel
- Member, Kāhui Māori, Deep South National Science Challenge, Deep South Science Challenge
- Expert Reviewer, National Land Domain Report, Ministry for the Environment / Statistics NZ, MfE
- Expert Advisor, Te Ao Tūroa, New Zealand Primary Sector Science Roadmap, Ministry for Primary Industries
- Expert Advisor, Māori Land Service Working Group, Te Puni Kōkiri, TPK