AUCKLAND EXPECTS THAT THE TREATY OF WAITANGI AND CUSTOMARY RIGHTS WILL BE HONOURED.

KO TE ARO WHAKAARO O TĀMAKI MAKAURAU TE TOHE KIA WHAKAHŌNORETIA TE TIRĪTi Ō WAITANGI ME NGĀ TIKANGA I TUKU IHO.

Strategic Direction 2

270_ Section A of this Plan sets out the Māori Responsiveness Framework, which proposes the relationship between the Auckland Council, mana whenua and Mataawaka. It incorporates the statutory obligations to Māori and outlines ways Māori can contribute to the future development of Auckland.

271_ This Chapter identifies five issues specifically relating to Māori interests. Other Chapters deal with issues affecting the broad community including Māori, for example Chapter 7: Auckland’s Environment, Chapter 1: Auckland’s People, and Chapter 6: Auckland’s Economy.

272_ The Auckland Plan will enable and support mana whenua and Mataawaka aspirations and provide opportunities for them to contribute to the future well-being of Auckland. Fundamental tenets to guide future outcomes include:

• creating a relationship where Māori are fully engaged in decisions concerning matters of significance to them
• making smarter decisions about how best to support Māori aspirations
• forming sustainable partnerships with Māori that have mutually beneficial, Auckland-wide outcomes
• recognising and providing for the customary right outcomes from historical Treaty Settlements and contemporary claims made under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act (2011).

273_ Auckland’s Strategic Direction is to: Enable Māori aspirations through recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi and Customary Rights. The transformational shift sought is to ‘Significantly lift Māori social and economic well-being’ (see Section C: The Journey to 2040).

274_ The direction and outcome statements provide guidance for all policy relating to Māori interests, and promote the following principles:

Decision-making and resources:

• create sustainable models for governance
• establish partnerships that enhance the Māori contribution to the vision for Auckland
• investigate alternative decision-making processes which empower parties to an agreement
• provide appropriate levels of support to enable Māori initiatives.

Sustaining reciprocal relationships:

• inform Auckland of the history and special place of mana whenua
• develop collaborative processes that promote a better understanding of significant issues affecting Māori in Auckland
• help communities to embrace the culture that is New Zealand’s key point of difference with the world.

Figure 2.1 Te Tiriti O Waitangi: Manukau-Kāwhai

Figure 2.1 Te Tiriti O Waitangi: Waikato-Manukau

Figure 2.1 Te Tiriti O Waitangi: Waitangi

275_ Papakāinga have the potential to become a model for community/village development. Like marae, papakāinga are an important extension of who iwi are, where they came from and their aspirations for future development. Enhancing opportunities for existing papakāinga and establishing new papakāinga continue to be important matters for iwi. Papakāinga present an opportunity for an integrated approach to community or village development. This requires coordinated support mechanisms to integrate funding, health and education initiatives, and economic development.

Figure 2.2 Ōrākei papakāinga whare concept

276_ The Council will work with iwi, the government, and financial institutions to find ways to access funds for papakāinga development. Additionally, inappropriate regulatory constraints that hinder papakāinga development will be reviewed and amended.

277_ The papakāinga concept is not limited to the cultural configurations attached to mana whenua. It can also be applied to Mataawaka interests as part of affordable housing: supporting physical and social infrastructure are found in papakāinga. As 90% of Auckland Māori have difficulty in accessing satisfactory, affordable housing, papakāinga housing could benefit some of these people. The Auckland Plan recognises that papakāinga applies to the development of Māori ancestral land or where appropriate, to land held in general title by mana whenua. Figure 2.2 identifies the Ōrākei papakāinga whare concept.

DIRECTIVE 2.1

Investigate and implement a suite of options to support papakāinga development on both traditional Māori land and general land.

278_ In recent times, Te Tiriti o Waitangi land claims required central and local government to re-examine their relationship with mana whenua regarding natural resource management. As a result, both central and local government and mana whenua agree that co-management/governance is a tenable approach to address the management and ownership of natural resources.

279_ Engagement with iwi over plan changes and resource consents is disjointed and often inhibits an effective resource management regime. The comparative lack of resource available to mana whenua groups can hinder their effective participation in co-management. Mana whenua must be given the opportunity to participate effectively in the co-governance and management of natural resources, cognisant of Te Tiriti settlement outcomes, and within the current regulatory framework.

DIRECTIVE 2.2

Implement a co-governance and management framework in collaboration with mana whenua.

280_ The unique heritage and cultural features of Auckland have been depleted and continue to be under threat as a result of urban expansion and some farming activities. Mana whenua across Auckland have felt this keenly, and have consistently remonstrated against the loss and damage to wāhi tapu and sites of significant cultural heritage. The strong spiritual relationship of mana whenua with wāhi tapu means that even when such places have passed out of their ownership or have been damaged, destroyed or desecrated, they can still be highly valued and tapu (sacred). Provisions regarding wāhi tapu and sites of significance are expressed in legislation and are commonly at the heart of environment court action. They also form part of Te Tiriti settlement claims. There is now an urgency to identify, manage and protect wāhi tapu and other significant sites associated with mana whenua.

DIRECTIVE 2.3

Recognise and provide for the unique cultural heritage status of wāhi tapu.

281_ Marae built in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s now need to be upgraded to meet existing and future demand. However, the ability of marae trust boards to qualify for funding for larger facilities is hindered by high initial outlay in terms of up-front contributions, concept and design work, feasibility studies, and resource consents. In addition, it is often difficult for Māori land owners to raise capital for marae works through land sale or debt financing.

282_ Marae can be a focal point for social, economic and cultural development. The feasibility of supporting marae facilities and projects must be assessed and new ways of funding investigated, including possible private sector participation. The core tenet to any approach must be continued Māori governance and control over marae. Marae are often the desired sites for papakāinga developments, and housing for kuia and kaumātua.

DIRECTIVE 2.4

Support marae development to achieve social, economic and cultural development.

283_ Specific Māori outcomes for Manukau, Papakura and Waitākere have been developed by former councils. The development of specific Māori outcomes arose as a consequence of:

• dense Māori populations in these areas
• local Māori advocacy, and long-standing relationships with councils
• commitment to their statutory obligations to Māori relating to the Treaty of Waitangi
• a belief that measurable, well-being gains for Māori can most effectively be achieved by focusing on Māori priorities.

284_ Core issues for Māori outcomes are:

• capacity for independent governance and management capability
• planning
• relationships.

285_ Fostering the facilitation of robust Māori outcomes is a strategic social investment for the future of Māori communities. Through proactive relationship building and engagement with wider Māori communities the strategic gains will be:

• infrastructure to support robust democratic participation by Māori communities in shaping Auckland, and achieving Māori outcomes
• social cohesion
• good governance.

DIRECTIVE 2.5

Prioritise facilitation of Māori outcomes through a comprehensive and coordinated development programme.

 

Map 2.1 Auckland's Māori