Living Indigenous Heritage: Planning for Māori Food Gardens in Aotearoa/New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Indigenous peoples always struggle to ensure planning practice is culturally inclusive in identifying and protecting heritage structures and sites. Planners struggle to understand the cultural and spiritual values inherent in heritage and to develop appropriate ways to protect what is often an intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Using traditional Māori food gardens as an example of ICH and a kaupapa Māori research methodology, this paper explores how plans and planners in New Zealand can better recognise and protect Māori cultural heritage, of the type represented in the ICH heritage of food gardens.

KEYWORDS:

• Intangible cultural heritage
• indigenous heritage
• Māori food gardens
• heritage planning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Tino rangatiratanga means self-determination, sovereignty, autonomy, self-government, kaitiankiatanga means guardianship including responsibility to safeguard the environment for future generations and Mātauranga means Māori knowledge and ways of knowing and practices.

2. The RMA uses inconsistent spelling of wāhi tapu (in S6 waahi tapu in S2 wāhi tapu) reflects strengthening of te Reo and the use of macrons.

3. The relationship, kinship, sense of family connection achieved through shared experiences and working together which provides a sense of belonging.

4. Many local authorities employ a Māori liaison officer to provide a link to local iwi and hapū and to advise on tikanga (customs and protocol).

5. A European New Zealander.

6. A sub-group within an iwi usually made up of extended family.

7. A decorative storehouse for food, usually for kūmara.

8. Tainui are the main iwi for the Waikato region.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Massey University [PEP Graduate Research Fund].