Expert Panel Speaking Notes

E-Mission Possible: Unlocking our low-emission future

29 November 2017

SESSION 1B: FRAMEWORKS AND INSTITUTIONAL AND RESEARCH NEEDS FOR

DECISION MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY

Key Questions:
1. What tools for the government or the private sector would support adaptive decision
making?; and
2. What institutions and processes would support accelerated low-emission pathways that are
integrated across sectors and broadly supported?

(Check against delivery)

Introduction
Thank you for the invitation to present today. Heres my take on components necessary to
accelerate the development and implementation of an integrated low-emissions pathway for
Aotearoa.

Dominant Western Modalities for Decision-making /Problem-solving

1. Firstly, we consider societys sub-optimal dominant solution-design approach to problem-
solving thats politically-driven (therefore often short-sighted, conservative,
contaminated with horse-trading, and comes with other failings).

1.1. Plus, in those relatively rare moments1 when science DOES get to influence policy, the
science is still:
a. Largely based in a molecular-reality world view; and
b. Increasingly corrupted with profit-driven agendas, human preconceptions and other
biases (that is to say, science isnt as open-minded and objective as we like to think
it is).

1.2. Also, the solution-design approach emerged from a colonialist Western cultural
paradigm that embeds many perverse values which gave rise to highly influential yet
destructive institutions, like:

a. The (anti)economic operating system that:

i. Defines success primarily in terms of economic market metrics and
financial wealth accumulation, but ignores other wealth such as a
thriving natural environment; and a healthy, educated, happy, civically-

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 engaged and free population (and, sadly, so much policy in New Zealand is
driven by GDP [Gross Domestic Product] imperatives which are based in this
perverse notion of success); and
ii. Depends on ever increasing growth on a finite planet, which has been
rightly criticized as insane, and Life-destroying.

1.3. What we need is something more

akin to the doughnut economics
model (right)2:

1.4. And then we have New Zealands

constitutional arrangements
whose values and mechanisms are
in serious need of
transformation, including a
Westminster Parliament that,
due to:
a. A highly competitive and
combative Opposition Party
system; and
b. Three yearly administrative
cycles:-

(and other failings)overwhelmingly

tends to create short-sighted,
flip-flopping policies where
cross-Party collaboration in the highest interests of the People and the Planet seems at
times to be nothing but a distant unachievable dream.

2. So that whole conventional approach only maintained the illusion of serving

humanity well: when in fact, if this was a car, it would definitely fail its Warrant of
Fitness!

Traditional/Indigenous Modalities for Decision-making / Problem-solving

3. Meanwhile, this whole time, another massively successful paradigm has survived
and even thrived despite colonizations attempts to suppress and extinguish it.

3.1. I speak here, of course, about indigenous peoples traditional values systems, 3
and the decision-making processes which they underpin.
3.2. Are these traditional systems perfect? No.4 But, neither is any system contaminated by
the Egoic human mind. However, compared to Western systems:

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 a. Theyve been incredibly efficient by dynamically working with Nature (not
fighting or trying to beat nature at her own game5),
b. Theyve been hugely successful at conserving Life-supporting habitats; and
c. They respect the Laws of Physics like, living within Earths limits. So, theyre
arguably more scientific than Western Science!

Our most under-utilized vital asset: Consciousness

4. The added attraction of indigenous peoples traditional knowledge is our awareness of

META-physics, and its critical role in affecting reality.

4.1. While Western Science has myopically obsessed with Newtonian molecular reality,
and has lagged with its so-called new scientific discoveries (!), Mori already knew
about:

a. Fractal Universe Theory6 - through understandings of:

i. The Universes Big Bang - through our knowledge of Ranginui and
Papatnuku going right back to Te Korekore;
ii. Our divine whakapapa (or genealogy) which connects us with all of Nature,
and the micro and the macro Universe; and
iii. Concepts like wairua which recognizes the duality of molecular and
quantum7 levels of existence;
b. Plasma and Magrav technology8 associated with electro-magnetic and
gravitation forces, or (as Mori call it) mauri, or the life-force thats in everything;
c. Multiple Brain theory9 which shows neurons are in the gut and the heart as well
as the brain which Mori reference in our model of balanced thinking that
employs tika (the mental aspect), pono (the gut instinctual aspect) and aroha (the
compassionate heart aspect); and, last but not least
d. Consciousness which western science now admits is worthy of study because
too many aspects of reality just cant be explained by conventional understandings
of hard physical reality alone.

Bottom line!

5. Todays world by any standard has gone quite mad.

5.1. One definition of insanity is to continue the same behavior and expect different
results.
5.2. Todays unprecedented and converging crises demand a boldly different, holistic,
systems-based decision-making approach: and this must be taught in our schools,
normalized in society, and made safe for everyone to think, talk and act this way.
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5.3. Meaningfully including traditional Mori knowledge (which is just as scientific as, and
highly complementary to, western science) requires a long-overdue paradigm shift. But if
we can achieve that shift, it will:
a. Be a highly positive and radically disruptive force; and will
b. Give humanity a real chance of salvaging whats left of, and restoring, our natural
world.

ENDS

1
There are increasing calls for government policy-making which is less about policy and politicians personal beliefs
and more based on scientific evidence: e.g. see NBRs article (3 September 2013) at
https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/too-much-instinct-too-little-evidence-policy-making-says-gluckman-bd-145343.
2
See presentation by Kate Raworth, Doughnut Economics (18 October 2012), at
https://www.thersa.org/discover/videos/event-videos/2012/10/doughnut-economics.
3
For a glimpse into those values (via framing from a human rights lens), see the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/Declaration.aspx.
4
One example of where indigenous knowledge applied in a contemporary context could improve, concerns many
iwis preference for the cleaning of water through planted areas and ponds, but which in the process also picks up
environmental nutrients (thereby somewhat offsetting the cleansing effect): ref radio interview Reclaiming and
regenerating fresh water courses, streams, rivers and lakes throughout NZ (23 November 2017, GreenPlanet FM).
5
E.g. with geoengineering / weather modification, genetically modified organisms and other technology; the use of
oil-based chemicals and toxins in industrial agriculture, and so on.
6
See for example C Murupaenga-Ikenn, Mori Wisdom Create by Numbers at
https://www.catherinemikenn.com/single-post/2017/06/05/M%25C4%2581ori-Wisdom-
%25E2%2580%2593-Create-by-Numbers.
7
See for example How to become a quantum physicist in five minutes | Jacob Sherson | TEDxAarhus (11 uly
2017) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkVnnN0MjIE.
8
See for example, The fourth state of matter -- plasma | Christine Charles | TEDxCanberra (3 November 2014) at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-17xqfF4FU.
9
See for example, Vivienne Berry: Science finds Multiple Brains in our bodies, heralding a new holistic modality
(22 December 2016) at https://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/vivienne-berry-multiple-brains-in-our-bodies-
m-braining-new-holistic-modality.

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