Metaphors, defined as the linguistic substitution of one phenomenon for another, are ubiquitous in freshwater science and policy. When used well, metaphors help to make complex and abstract ideas familiar and relatable. However, metaphors can mean many different things to different people. In bilingual countries such as New Zealand, the complexity of metaphors is increased by translation and/or interpretation across languages. Code switching between English and Māori language is also used in freshwater science and management to facilitate cross-cultural communication. While code switching can foster collaboration and inclusiveness, it can also appropriate and ostracise when done without cultural context. Likewise, while metaphors are useful for simplifying, making familiar and motivating responses, they also obscure and marginalise, and as such the values embedded within metaphors deserve deliberation.
In this presentation we explore the role of three freshwater metaphors – river health, river personhood, invasive species – in structuring freshwater management in Aotearoa. Freshwater metaphors in Aotearoa are being used for a range of tasks such as expanding the scope of freshwater management (river health), re-orientating human responsibilities to the natural world (river personhood) and mobilising support for specific environmental actions (invasive species); metaphors are being shaped by social struggles in their genesis, normalisation and institutionalisation; and, metaphors are having real world effects due to their institutionalisation1. Freshwater scientists are key actors in the social life of freshwater metaphors. We suggest, scientists could reflect better on what makes a ‘good’ metaphor.2
Then we introduce a new line of study that seeks to explore how code switching is being used in the freshwater restoration discourse in Aotearoa and ask ‘how can we differentiate between shallow usage of te reo Māori, or a deep integration of Māori concepts, values and language?’ – moving us beyond simple translation.