Conservation translocations—particularly those that weave diverse ways of knowing and seeing the world—promise to enhance species recovery and build ecosystem resilience. Yet, few studies to date have been led or co-led by Indigenous peoples; or consider how centring Indigenous knowledge systems can lead to better conservation translocation outcomes.

In this Perspective—as Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners working in partnership in Aotearoa New Zealand—we present a novel framework for co-designing conservation translocations that centre Indigenous peoples and knowledge systems through Two-Eyed Seeing.

We apply this framework to Aotearoa New Zealand’s threatened and under-prioritised freshwater biodiversity. In particular, we highlight the co-development of conservation translocations with Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara and Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau that are weaving emerging genomic approaches into local mātauraka (Māori knowledge systems), including customary practices, processes and language.

We envision the Two-Eyed Seeing framework presented here will provide a critical point of reference for the co-design of conservation translocations led or co-led by relevant Indigenous peoples elsewhere in the world to ultimately build more resilient biocultural heritage.

Torutoru noa iho kā hinoka kua puta mai i kā iwi taketake e pā ana ki te nekeneke o kā momo tata korehāhā. Tēnā pea mā te mātauraka o kā iwi taketake, ka whakahaumako i te whāomoomo o te pūnaha hauropi.

Kua hakaia he pou tarāwaho e mātou hei hoahoa i kā hinoka neke momo tata korehāhā. Ko te kako o tēnei pou tarāwaho ko te arotahika ki kā mātauraka o kā iwi taketake kia āwhina i ēnei mahi.

Mai i te whakakotahitaka o kā rarauka huika ira ki kā momo mātauraka Māori — mai i kā mahika kai, tae ana ki te reo — ka whakahākai mātou i tēnei pou tarāwaho ki kā momo tata korehāhā i kā wai o Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara me Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau.

Ko te tūmanako ka whakahākaitia tēnei pou tarāwaho e kā iwi taketake me kā kairangahau o te ao whānui ki te hāpai i te whāomoomo o kā koiora mai i ō rātou whenua.