Taiao Manawa Ora
Purpose-led change
The Taiao Manawa Ora model guides this research programme. Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the inter-relationship of values, knowledge, and worldviews of tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti are at the centre. The outer ‘wings’ highlight the differences, and show connection across cultures to gather and share information as we move along our te taiao pathway.
Eleven Key Insights
How Taiao Manawa Ora was implemented?
The 11 insights for successful placed-based initiatives
In 2020, a group of 25 individuals from agribusiness, community, government, and industry came together to draw from te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā to investigate the question “What enables people to unite to explore opportunities to revitalise communities and environments in Aotearoa-New Zealand?” This was posed in response to urgent calls from industry, government, and research for land use, management, value chain, and market opportunities to meet legislation and sustain market access by tackling global and local environmental degradation from biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. There is an opportunity for a uniquely Aotearoa-New Zealand response to these challenges by meaningful inclusion of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tangata whenua through protection, participation, and partnership in decision-making.
Revitalise te Taiao was co-designed and co-developed by 25 individuals from across Māori agribusiness, mātauranga Māori practitioners, scientists, researchers, community leaders, government and industry representatives. The research programme was established under terms that prioritised the inclusion of Māori agribusiness and land management case studies.
The Revitalise te Taiao working group, along with programme leads Dr James Turner, Simon Stokes and Richard Te Hurinui Jones, held their first official gathering in April 2021 at Te Mānuka Tūtahi marae in Whakatāne. A series of hui followed with members collectively tasked with designing and developing the Revitalise te Taiao research programme in 2021 through to 2022.
Participants from Māori business and community members had a diverse range of skills and experience including kaupapa Māori, Māori-centered and Māori-led initiatives, research, and mātauranga Māori with respect to land and freshwater-based sustainable business options.
“Right from the start, the programme has incorporated a number of elements from te ao Māori that are underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles of partnership, participation and protection,” says co-lead Richard Te Hurinui Jones.
For more information on how Revitalise te Taiao was implemented, the Taiao Manawa Ora model provides an insight to the design and development and guiding principles and values of the research programme.
1. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is foundational to the design of place-based initiatives
Mutual obligations: Te Tiriti o Waitangi offers a framework for connecting systems and communities of knowledge in place-based initiatives. Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles emerge from judicial decisions and Waitangi Tribunal findings.
Key Principles for applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi in place-based initiatives are:
- Reciprocity: Recognizing the essential bargain.
- Rangatiratanga: Authority and self-determination.
- Shared Decision-Making: Collaborative processes.
- Partnership: Working together.
- Active Protection: Safeguarding rights.
- Ōritetanga: Mutual benefit, development, and redress.
These principles practically apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi rights to land use and management decisions, viewing the local environment through a te ao Māori lens.
"Te Tiriti o Waitangi anchors Te Kāhui Rau's design process, driving a mana whenua initiative and promoting kaitiakitanga for te taiao. Recognising 'positionality' as tangata whenua, Te Kāhui Rau upholds responsibilities inherent in whakapapa. They strategically cultivate alliances that echo their values and Treaty principles. Through this approach, they aim to foster unity and collaboration to enhance te taiao."
2. Te taiao as a basis for change
Te Taiao is a primary concern for people, communities, and agencies wanting to make change. Te Taiao, therefore, underpins all other key insights.
Te Taiao is the environment that surrounds us, including the natural flowing expanse of our existence. It encompasses everything growing and flowing across physical, metaphysical, temporal, and cultural spheres.
Whakapapa: Te Taiao manifests through people, landscape, plants, and animals. Te Taiao emphasises broader outcomes beyond narrower definitions of the environment. When designing place-based initiatives, Te Taiao should be at the forefront of our minds.
Interconnected Relationships: Te Taiao encourages us to consider the future through interconnected relationships among stakeholders, viewpoints, interests, and practices across programmes, sectors, and nationally.
Inclusion of Mātauranga Māori: In place-based initiatives, incorporating Māori knowledge and perspectives deepens collective understanding of connections and interdependency with Te Taiao across generations.
"Rere ki Uta, Rere ki Tai encapsulates the concept of respecting soil "Oneone" for its Mana and Mauri , recognising its vital role in land management and its impact on Te Taiao. This understanding is enriched by Visual Soil Assessment, a tool that enables farmers to connect more deeply, through mindful observation of Te Taiao, and promoting the recording of seasonal changes on farms. This approach fosters a deeper connection with the land, contributing to a more sustainable future."
3. Respecting all knowledges
Respecting, drawing from and integrating diverse knowledge systems is crucial for successful place-based initiatives.
Knowledge Systems encompass information, know-how, technologies, practices, experiences, and beliefs developed within a community.
Diverse Philosophies and Values: Different knowledge systems exist, shaped by various philosophies, cultural contexts, and values. For instance: Scientific knowledge is derived from the scientific method, it describes reality through precise relationships and quantifiable data. Experiential and traditional knowledge includes local and cultural realities gained from practice, observation, discussion, and experience (e.g., mātauranga Māori).
Historic Imbalance: Acknowledging and developing indigenous knowledge systems globally is essential, especially in the context of Western science influencing policy without recognizing other valuable knowledge sources.
"Rere ki Uta, Rere ki Tai represents the interconnected approach of modern science and mātauranga Māori . It encourages collaboration between farmers and Te Taiao around informed decision-making. Farm & Marae wānanga provide culturally safe spaces for knowledge sharing, that foster a deeper connection with Te Taiao and the "Mana & Mauri of Soil". These spaces embrace mātauranga Māori , including Te Reo, Tikanga and Maramataka Māori."
4. Tikanga and values
In place-based initiatives, tikanga and shared values play a crucial role in enabling effective collaboration among groups. They help groups agree on actions and articulate desired outcomes.
Tikanga: Tikanga refers to the customary system of values and practices deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori. These values are based on fundamental principles that guide decisions about right and wrong, as well as how to act in various situations. Shared values and tikanga form the foundation for decision-making and the behavioural norms of individuals, families, groups, and communities.
Establishing Tikanga: Working together begins when group members discuss and develop a shared code of behaviour and values. This process allows individuals to express their unique values, recognize shared values, and define how the group should operate to align individual behaviour with collective values.
Collective Community: Successful groups acknowledge and respect individual differences, building a collective community. Establishing group tikanga and values supports other key insights, including respecting diverse knowledge, fostering collaboration, and developing interconnected solutions.
"Te Kāhui Rau is a movement that embodies the shared values and aspirations of Ngā uri o Ngāti Tāwhirikura. This includes The Declaration and Affirmation of Hapū Tino Rangat iratanga (2013), a pivotal document that reaffirms the inherent sovereignty and self-determination of its members. It also incorporates the Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Values, the principles that guide the community's actions and decisions, reflecting their unique cultural identity and heritage."
5. People and community-led change
Ground-Up Approach: Successful long-term implementation of place-based initiatives is driven by people and communities. This approach differs from top-down methods administered through regulation, policy, or organisations.
On-going Participation: Communities and people are often consulted as stakeholders, but this engagement is sometimes seen as a one-off event. A people- and community-centric approach is more effective in engaging diverse groups, including Māori, Pasifika, young people, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Empowering Local Leadership: Community-led change requires empowering local leaders. Acknowledging complexity and diversity within communities is essential. A shared purpose brings people together, fostering collaboration and embracing change.
"Te Kāhui Rau is a ‘grass roots movement led by members of Ngāti Tāwhirikura hapū. Spearheading Kaupapa Māori - led initiatives that define Tangata Whenua connection with Te Taiao and the ‘positionality’ held in the wider community and to one another. Te Kāhui Rau aims to restore pathways for the interconnectedness of Whenua and Whānau. Te Kahui Rau acknowledges the impact of temporal displacement and colonisation. Through researching culturally appropriate remedies to restore Whakapapa links to Te Taiao. Te Kahui Rau is facilitating this through Te Moeone (Māra Kai project) and He Kawa Ora (Healing framework) ."
6. People and Place – a sense of place, belonging, and wellbeing
Emotional Connection: Successful place-based initiatives begin with people and their connections to a place. A “sense of place” refers to the personal meaning and significance that places hold, rooted in deep emotional and physical ties.
Whakapapa: Māori have enduring connections to the natural environment (forests, wetlands, rivers, oceans, mountains). These connections are intertwined with identity, health, and wellbeing. A Māori sense of place considers both historical and future connections.
Place-Centred Approaches: Taking a holistic view, place-centred approaches consider people’s experiences, relationships, and tangible and intangible aspects of health and wellbeing. They foster inclusivity and acknowledge people’s different emotional and physical connections to specific locations.
"Ko au taku pamu, ko taku pāmu ko au" . Rere ki uta, rere ki tai embraces Te Whare Tapa Whā model and promotes spiritual, mental, emotional, and social well-being with a focus on farming families (Whānau Oranga), animals (Pamū Ora), and the environment (Taiao Ora). “Kia Hohou Te Rongo" encourages listening to farmers ' needs and partnering with them to create solutions to revitalise Te Taiao. Whanaungatanga strengthens trust and collaboration and guides the research. The "Loyal to Soil" initiative represents a nationwide movement towards this holistic approach.
7. Collaboration and participation
Common Strengths: Successful place-based initiatives involve coming together, working together, and participating in direction setting. This involves:
- Collaboration: Designing and developing projects collectively.
- Participation: Ongoing involvement in project activities.
- Resource Integration: Sharing resources and capabilities for ideation, creation, and action.
Benefits of Collaboration and Participation:
- Develop a shared understanding of issues.
- Recognise the importance of collaborative problem-solving.
- Embrace diversity as a learning opportunity.
- Appreciate different knowledge systems (e.g., Māori wisdom, experiential, scientific).
- Foster idea-sharing and new understandings.
- Address individual and community needs.
- Sustain community connections beyond project lifetimes.
For Māori, engagement centres around kanohi kitea (face-to-face connection), tatai tangata (understanding who you are), and whakatakoto kaupapa (establishing shared purpose). The journey of engagement involves multiple visits, forming connections through place and people, and ultimately striving toward common goals.
Kotahitanga represents the unity of farming families and communities, especially during challenging weather events in Aotearoa. This includes practical support for families and livestock. The aim is to build resilient , profitable farming communities through collaborative research. Knowledge exchange within Revitalise Te Taiao ensures support is provided where needed.
8. Leadership and management (mana rangatira/mana whakahaere)
Complex and Contextual: Leadership and management emerge from the specific cultural contexts of place-based initiatives. Key aspects of leadership and management are:
- Crystallize: Unify concepts and perceptions into an overarching vision that resonates with partners.
- Galvanize: Build a strong, committed project group.
- Organize: Understand steps for coherent action and involve others with needed skills.
- Realize: Provide time, energy, resources, and passion to sustain group activities.
Collaborative and Participatory Processes: These underpin leadership by respecting diverse values and knowledge systems.
Māori Leadership Qualities:
- Human-Oriented: Encouraging fairness, altruism, kindness, and care.
- Protective: Avoiding negativity and maintaining everyone’s status.
- Charismatic and Values-Based: Inspiring high performance based on core values.
- Team-Oriented: Collaborative, aware of dynamics, and administratively competent.
These qualities emphasize diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences working toward shared goals while allowing unique contributions.
Te Kahui Rau is guided by values aligned with the Ngāti Tawhirikura Hapū Rangatiratanga Declaration, emphasising integrity and responsibility to past and future generations. Through the collective strengths of Māori scholars and researchers Te Kahui Rau facilitated a series of kaupapa Māori research wananga, which enabled participants to learn from distinguished Māori researchers .
9. Broader measures of success
Multiple Values: Successful place-based initiatives prioritise multiple values as well as economic ones. These include environmental, social, and cultural values.
Commercial Viability: Financial success is recognized as crucial but serves to achieve enduring values.
Shift in Priorities: Producers increasingly prioritise environmental and social outcomes, reflecting a societal shift and new business models. Market changes favour direct-to-consumer sales, health/well-being products, and complementary experiences. This recognizes the interconnected health of the natural world and business viability.
Māori Economy and Cultural Bottom Lines: Māori commerce is dynamic, deep-rooted, and complex, it integrates intergenerational wealth, cultural identity, and well-being (iwi, hapū, whānau). Culture and commerce intersect, emphasizing the culturalisation of commerce.
Knowledge into Action for Te Taiao are using a Te Taiao approach leading to collaborative and interconnected solutions. Landowners within the Upper Clutha are currently exploring diversified land use options where each are assessed across criteria including financial, environmental, wellbeing and community impact. Supporting landowners to implement change and measure success across these indicators is provided within the programme.
10. Interconnected solutions
Holistic Starting Point: Place-based initiatives begin with a holistic view of how people connect with their place.
Interconnected Solutions: Rather than isolated fixes, these initiatives identify, co-design, and implement integrated solutions. Interconnected solutions address complex challenges more effectively. For instance, land-use changes that enhance the environment and generate financial returns, as well as support investment in local people’s capability and capacity. Strengthening individuals and families in turn leads to socio-economic, cultural, and environmental benefits for local communities and Aotearoa-New Zealand.
Rere ki Uta Rere ki Tai “from Sea to Soil to Society,” represents an interconnected holistic perspective of Te Taiao. Working in partnerships with key industry stakeholders to inform market acceptance. Lead better outcomes for the environment and help government policy be a lived reality.
11. Access to resources
Resources for place-based initiatives include:
- Funding: Critical for risk-taking in land use, management, value chain and market changes. Flexible funding that doesn’t focus solely on predetermined outputs and outcomes is essential.
- Multiple Partners: Successful initiatives involve multiple partners and diverse aspirations, allowing outputs and outcomes to emerge over time.
Skills and Technology: Access to data, tools, and models is crucial for new understanding and knowledge. Quantification, mapping, and modelling require various data types (observations, statistical, geospatial) and adapt to complexity.
Knowledge into Action for Te Taiao has strengthened connections between the Upper Clutha community and leading knowledge, research, and expertise from across Aotearoa to develop resources for delivering interconnected solutions for landowners. This includes teaching tools for on-farm biodiversity monitoring, spatial mapping using physiographics, and support to carry out integrated farm planning.