Regional Policy Statement for Taranaki |
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| This page: | Part C Section 16.3 — Tangata Whenua values |
16.3 Recognising cultural and spiritual values of tangata whenua in resource management processes
Background to the issue
The environmental management system of tangata whenua in Taranaki was developed over many centuries and has been exercised by numerous generations. It is still practised today and is recognised in the Treaty of Waitangi. Of fundamental significance to this management philosophy is the Māori perception of the natural world and its origins. Māori view themselves as an integral part of the natural world. The spiritual beliefs held by Māori link the tangata whenua to their original parents Papa-tu-a nuku (Earth mother) and Ranganui (Sky father) as part of a complete living system.
Māori consider all things in the natural world to have mauri (life force) and wairua (a spiritual dimension). Respect for the spiritual integrity of the environment and the atua (god) that created it will ensure that the taonga can be protected and passed on to succeeding generations.
Tangata whenua authority to care for taonga is based on kaitiakitanga (guardianship), which is derived from mana (absolute authority and legitimacy) and expressed through tikanga (customs and values). Tikanga includes concepts such as tapu (sacredness) and noa (non-tapu), ihi (awesome power), and wehi (reverence). It also includes customary practices and rules such as rotational or seasonal harvesting and collection techniques aimed at preserving the natural state of fishing reefs, the use of rahui (prohibition) on seafood gathering to prevent exploitation, restrictions on gutting and shelling seafood below the high tide mark and the avoidance of contamination of the coastal habitat from human and animal wastes. Tikanga has been developed over time to maintain the mauri and sustainability of the domains of atua.
The Taranaki Regional Council and territorial authorities, in giving effect to its resource management responsibilities, must take into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (section 16.1 above), have particular regard to kaitiakitanga (section 16.2 above), and recognise and provide for the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu and other taonga (section 16.3 above).
The significant issue in relation to taking into account Māori cultural and spiritual values in resource management processes is:
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CSV ISS 1 |
To adopt resource management processes that give particular consideration to the relationship that tangata whenua have with the environment and which accommodate the cultural and spiritual values of Iwi o Taranaki. |
Objective
CSV OBJECTIVE 1
Management of natural and physical resources in the Taranaki region will be carried out in a manner that takes into account the cultural and spiritual values of Iwi o Taranaki and in a manner which respects and accommodates tikanga Māori.
Policies
Cultural and spiritual values
CSV POLICY 1
The special relationship that Taranaki tangata whenua have with te taiao (the environment), as reflected in their respect for the spiritual integrity of te taiao as a living system infused with qualities of wairua (spirituality), mauri (life principle), wehi (reverence), mana (authority), tapu (sacredness) and noa (non-tapu), will be given particular consideration in the promotion of the sustainable management of the region's resources.
Partnership in resource management
CSV POLICY 2
Procedures and approaches will be adopted to enable iwi to participate as a partner in water, air and coastal management decision-making.
Recognition of tikanga Māori and tribal rangatiratanga
CSV POLICY 3
Procedures will be adopted, which seek to recognise and accommodate tikanga Māori and the rangatiratanga rights of iwi and hapu over their mahinga mātaitai and other taonga in the environment and their role as kaitiaki, within resource management processes.
Explanation of the policies
Policy 1 recognises the special relationship that tangata whenua have with the environment. The Taranaki Regional Council and district councils in giving effect to their resource management responsibilities will give particular consideration to this relationship to ensure that tangata whenua face no unnecessary barriers in participating in resource management processes.
Policy 2 recognises the special partnership relationship between iwi and the Crown as a principle of the Treaty of Waitangi and refers to the establishment of procedures to encourage active participation of iwi in resource management decision making.
Policy 3 has been adopted in accordance with the Treaty of Waitangi principle of rangatiratanga, which recognises the right of individual iwi to define their own cultural perspectives and resource management preferences within their rohe and their responsibilities to safeguard tribal resources. The Policy also seeks to recognise and accommodate tikanga Māori as part of the Taranaki Regional Council's management of natural and physical resources.
Related policies
All policies in Sections 5.1 [Soil erosion]; Section 5.2 [Soil health]; Section 5.3 [Hazardous substances and contaminated sites]; Section 6.1 [Sustainable water allocation]; Section 6.2 [Surface water quality]; Section 6.4 [Wetlands]; Section 6.5 [Land drainage and associated diversions]; Section 6.6 [Use of river and lake beds]; Section 6.7 [Public access to rivers and lakes]; Section 7.1 [Air quality]; Section 7.2 [Climate change]; Section 8.1 [Natural character of the coastal environment]; Section 8.2 [Coastal water quality]; Section 8.3 [Public access to the coastal environment]; Section 9 [Indigenous biodiversity]; Section 10.1 [Natural features and landscapes]; Section 10.2 [Historic heritage]; Section 10.3 [Amenity values]; Section 13 [Minerals]; Section 14 [Energy]; Section 16.1 [Treaty of Waitangi], Section 16.2 [Kaitiakitanga], and Section 16.3 [Ancestral lands].
Methods of implementation
The Taranaki Regional Council will:
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Provide for the views of tangata whenua to be represented in the development of policies and plans, as appropriate, by: (a) consulting with iwi and hapu in the development of policy and regional plans; (b) providing tangata whenua with sufficient information, as may be appropriate and within the constraints of the Resource Management Act, to make informed decisions and provide representative views; (c) contracting as appropriate, representatives of iwi and hapu to supply information, provide representative views, act as facilitators, and undertake research work or specific projects for policy and plan preparation; (d) providing technical, administrative and other support to assist the understanding and participation of iwi and hapu in resource management; and (e) holding hui and other meetings with iwi and hapu.
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Provide iwi and hapu with full opportunity to participate in the resource consents process, as appropriate, by: (a) notifying, and consulting with affected iwi and hapu on notified resource consent applications which are site or resource specific; (b) arranging and facilitating meetings between resource consent applicants and members of affected iwi and hapu; (c) providing information and technical advice to members of affected iwi and hapu to assist with the preparation of submissions when required; and (d) extending processing periods when necessary and within statutory constraints, to enable adequate consultation and possible resolution of issues.
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Provide for tikanga Māori to be recognised in the hearing process by: 1. arranging interpretation services for the presentation of evidence in Māori; 2. holding pre-hearing meetings and hearings on marae as may be appropriate, at the request of affected iwi and hapu; and 3. excluding the public from a hearing and restricting the publication of evidence when this is necessary to avoid offence to tikanga Māori and the disclosure of the location of wāhi tapu.
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Encourage iwi participation and support in environmental monitoring, including input into the design of monitoring programmes and involvement in monitoring activities, when appropriate.
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Support iwi initiatives to prepare iwi planning documents by providing planning assistance and reasonable clerical support where required, and by facilitating funding options on a case-by-case basis.
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Consider opportunities for: (a)transfer of functions to Te Putahitanga o Taranaki or similar standing committee of the Council; and (b) the delegation of powers or joint management agreements to iwi authorities; - providing they meet the required conditions of representing the community of interest, efficiency and use of expertise and fulfil the necessary reporting and accountability procedures that would need to be established.
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Consider opportunities for using methods of resource management and monitoring that recognise traditional cultural and spiritual values of tangata whenua as an alternative or additional means of achieving sustainable management or protecting taonga.
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Consider the development of memoranda of understanding with iwi authorities to promote resource management and an effective relationship between the Taranaki Regional Council and iwi.
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When developing policies and processing resource consents, have regard to statutory acknowledgements where the Crown has formally acknowledged the statements made by iwi of the particular cultural, spiritual, historical, and traditional association of iwi with particular areas.
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Continue to be guided in administering functions, powers and duties pursuant to the Act, by the Declaration of Understanding and the Code of Conduct developed jointly by the Taranaki Regional Council and Iwi o Taranaki.
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Principal reasons for adopting the objective, policies and methods
The objective, policies and methods of implementation give effect to the requirements of the Resource Management Act. In particular, they establish a planning framework that further addresses a matter of national importance under the Resource Management Act - namely recognition and provision for the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their water, sites, wāhi tapu and other taonga (section 6(e)). The Taranaki Regional Council and territorial authorities must also have particular regard to kaitiakitanga (section 7(a)) and the ethic of stewardship (section 7(aa)); and take into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (section 8).
The policies and methods build on current approaches to this issue. The policies and methods are considered appropriate having regard to their efficiency and effectiveness and their benefits and costs. They also reaffirm the importance of regional plans in terms of setting the resource consenting framework and the importance of consultation with iwi during their preparation.
Of note has been the significant role of Te Putahitanga o Taranaki - the Taranaki Regional Council's Māori liaison committee - in establishing Council's policies on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and on resource management issues of significant to iwi. Te Putahi, which was established in the early years after the Council's formation, acted as a pan iwi forum for discussion and was a source of advice to the Council on issues of interest or concern to Māori.
Due to the efforts of Te Putahitanga o Taranaki, policies and plans are now firmly in place and continue to guide the Taranaki Regional Council in its activities. However, there have been issues with rights of representation on Te Putahi, which remain unresolved. As a consequence, Te Putahi has been inactive in recent years. A review of the role of the committee initiated by iwi, has not been completed.
Until such time as there is greater clarity on its future role, Te Putahi will continue as a non-active Standing Committee of the Taranaki Regional Council. In the meantime, the Council will continue to implement the policies and methods outlined in this section and seek to maintain effective working relationships with individual iwi and hapu in its day-to-day activities.
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Environmental results anticipated CSV ER 1 Maintenance and enhancement of the relationship of Iwi o Taranaki with water, sites, wāhi tapu and other taonga. CSV ER 2 Environmental outcomes which accommodate the cultural and spiritual values of tangata whenua. |
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