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Using the Cultural Health Index:
How to assess the health of streams and waterways

Te whakamahi i te Kuputohu Hauora Ahurea:
Me pēhea te arotake i te hauora o ngā pūkaki me ngā awa wai

February 2006, Ref. ME711

The Cultural Health Index (CHI) is a tool that Māori can use to assess and manage waterways in their area. The index allows iwi/hapū to assess the cultural and biological health of a stream or catchment of their choosing, and then communicate this information to water managers in a way that can be understood and integrated into resource management processes.

This guide explains how to apply the CHI for streams and waterways, from selecting sites and setting up a monitoring team, to calculating the CHI scores for the sites. It provides resources such as forms, recommended interview questions and data collection worksheets.

A technical report is available which describes the science and development of the Cultural Health Index.

Availability:

Note:
The February 2006 edition of the Cultural Health Index user guide contains an error on page 47. On the Field Assessment Form in Appendix 4 the last question - would you return to this site in the future? - should read: 1. No   2.  3.  4.  5. Yes

 

 

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