23 December 2003 Media Release

CFRT STAFF MEMBER TO PRESENT AT INTERNATIONAL MAPPING FORUM, VANCOUVER, CANADA

Acting GIS Coordinator, Moka Apiti of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust is presenting an Aotearoa perspective of empowering indigenous peoples through mapping at the International Forum on Indigenous Mapping being held in Vancouver, Canada.

Nominated by Professor Brian Murton of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, this invitation marks the culmination of a decade’s work for Moka.

CFRT is delighted with Moka’s selection. “We live in the Age of the Idea. It’s appropriate to focus on transformational ideas. In being transformational and knowledge-edge people, the Crown Forestry Rental Trust wants to share what we do well with New Zealand and the world at large”.

The Forum will bring up to two hundred international representatives of indigenous peoples engaged in mapping and those who assist them in these efforts. Mapping is a viable tool, which will enable native peoples to rekindle, maintain and wield profound knowledge of their homelands. The Forum seeks to establish connections and exchange mapping knowledge so that the full power of an indigenous mapping network can be realised.

The International Forum on Indigenous Mapping - Mapping for Indigenous Advocacy and Empowerment will be held 11 to 14 March 2004.