UPDATE 12 July 2021

It is with great satisfaction that I can announce Phase 1 release of the complete set of 68 transcripts for interviews conducted with expert Māori/Local/Science knowledge holders who generously shared their knowledge for the Aotearoa/New Zealand White Pointer (Great White Shark) Chronicles Research Program. 

Today's Phase 1 final instalment comprises 17 Stewart Island expert knowledge holder interviews, including:

• Matt Atkins (Charter Operator)

• Peter Bain (Scubadiver, Spearfisherman, Fish Farmer, Commercial Diver)

• Joe Cave (Commercial Fisherman, Fish Farmer, Businessman)

• Tim Dawson (Pāua Diver, Commercial Fisherman, Ferry Skipper, Charter Operator)

• Brett Hamilton (Commercial Fisherman)

• Colin Hopkins (Commercial Fisherman, Pāua Diver, Charter Operator)

• Ty Jenkinson (Scubadiver, Pāua Diver, Mussel Farmer, Eco-Charter Skipper)

• Gordon Leask (Commercial Fisherman, Fishing Tour Operator)

• Ken McAnergney (Civil Planner, Māori Cultural Historian)

• Olaf Nilsen (Commercial Fisherman)

• Greg Northe (Fish Farmer, Scuba Diver, Ecotourism Operator)

• Anthony O’Rourke (Commercial Fisherman, Fishing Tour Operator)

• Phillip Smith (Commercial Fisherman, Pāua Diver, Merchant Mariner, Salmon Farm Manager, Eco-Tour Charter Operator)

• Zane Smith (Commercial Fisherman, Commercial Pāua Diver)

• Richard Squires (Commercial Fisherman, Charter Operator)

• Peter Tait (Forest Ranger, Commercial Fisherman, Charter Operator)

• Arthur White (Surf Life Saving, Surfing, Sailing, Recreational Fishing, Outdoor Instructor, Charter Operator)

Together with the previously released transcripts for the Shark Cage Tour Dive Operators and associates, 
https://www.whitepointer.cloud/interviews-cage-tour-dive-operators
the Reader will now have unprecedented access to insights on the ecology and behaviour of Carcharodon carcharias in the highest aggregation region anywhere in Aotearoa/New Zealand coastal waters. 

Given that this research program is the first anywhere in the world to formally document these extraordinary experiences with White Pointers, there is a wealth of reliable knowledge and associated hypotheses that the Science knowledge system currently has very little (if any) experience with ... including the first-ever direct, up-close, observation of White Pointers mating by the much-respected NZ commercial fisherman Dick Ledgerwood:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/04/rolling-and-rolling-and-rolling-the-first-detailed-account-of-great-white-shark-sex

Now that Phase 1 of the White Pointer Chronicles research program has been concluded, research efforts will shift to a formal reconciliation of evidence about the ecology and behaviour of these NZ White Pointers - within and between the Māori, Local and Science knowledge systems. To what extent do the knowledge systems overlap? Where do they complement? Where do they conflict? 

Specifically, I will begin Phase 2 analysis by focussing on (a) key documents and archival reports in the non-Science (non-peer-reviewed) domain, and (b) compilation and rigorous scholarly evaluation of every primary, peer-reviewed article on NZ White Pointer ecology and behaviour that has been published by scientists working for the NZ Department of Conservation and NZ National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. These analyses will include, but not be limited to, the much-debated effects of cage dive operations on the ecology and behaviour of White Pointers in NZ coastal waters.

I encourage you to check back at the research program website over the coming months to learn more about the results of these knowledge system analyses.

Once again, thank you for your continued interest in the White Pointer Chronicles research program. Rest assured that many fascinating surprises have yet to rise to the surface ...

Sincerely,

Steve Crawford

Update 09 September 2020: New Publication

Varghese, J. & S.S. Crawford. 2020. A cultural framework for Indigenous, Local and Science knowledge systems in ecology and natural resource management. Ecological Monographs [Accepted Article]

Update 04 September 2020:

'Rolling and rolling and rolling': the first detailed account of great white shark sex (The Guardian, 04 September 2020)

[and no, Local Expert knowledge holders do not require their direct observations to be ‘verified’ by the Science knowledge system (with or without photos), in order to be considered reliable]

Radio New Zealand interview on the White Pointer research project (2020.03.03)

As always, please contact me if you wish to be added to the email list for notification of future interview releases and program updates.

Special Thanks To Project Transcribers

As we approach release of the final expert knowledge holder interviews for this research project, I would like to take this opportunity to very explicitly and very enthusiastically thank the team of Transcribers (*=Yeoman’s Duty) who worked diligently, over countless hundreds of hours, to transcribe the audio recordings of interviews. When I started this thing, I had no idea how indebted I would be for your essential assistance. Thank You - Very, Very, Much.

Sam Fraser-Baxter **
Chloe Crawford *
Lynda Lehman *
Juliana Van Adrichem *
Owen Baker
Patrice Baker
Dana Dabour
Jorge Hurtado-Gonzales
Lidor Levy
Sarah Mulligan
Kathryn Nicol
Veronica Popowich
Katie Wilson

Principal Investigator: 
Steve Crawford
(University of Guelph, Canada)

This is an independent, proof-of-concept research project that combines social and natural science to investigate the insights that different knowledge systems (Māori, Local and Science) can contribute to (1) conservation ecology and (2) management decision-making regarding the population of White Pointers (Mango Taniwha, Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias) inhabiting coastal waters of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Special attention is placed on recent management conflicts that have emerged between the NZ Department of Conservation and people of the Foveaux Strait region, specifically regarding the behavioural and ecological effects of shark cage tour dive operations at Edwards Island, just north of Rakiura/Stewart Island. To be clear, I am neither for nor against these tour operations - but rather see myself as an independent analyst who is very much for respectful inclusivity, explicit clarity, transparency and accountability in conflict resolution and management decision-making. 

During the period October 2015-February 2016, more than 70 interviews were conducted with expert knowledge holders with experience in one or more of five different Southland regions, from Otago to Fiordland. These knowledge holders came from a wide variety of backgrounds, including: swimmers, boarders, surf life savers, scuba divers, spearfishermen, boaters, commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, marine ecologists, - as well as the two shark tour dive operators themselves. The combined body of knowledge shared by these experts provides unprecedented insight into the nature of these magnificent animals, and will help to provide a sound basis for resolving the outstanding management challenges associated with conservation ecology and future management planning for the White Pointer population of Aotearoa/New Zealand.