Council engagement with tāngata whenua for RMA processes - a Ngai Tahu case study
Abstract
This guidance note provides information on the ways that councils may engage with tāngata whenua in Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) processes. The guidance is based on interviews in 2005 and 2006 with the 26 South Island councils located within the Ngai Tahu takiwa.
Some of the engagement that the councils undertake with Ngāi Tahu is mandatory, established through Statutory Acknowledgments and First Schedule requirements for RMA plan and policy preparation and review. Other areas of engagement are voluntary but, when based on best practices, can ultimately lead to better RMA decision-making. Underlying any engagement are the specific matters set out in Part II of the RMA, particularly ss6(e), 6(f), 7(a) and 8.
The best practice information within this guidance note relates specifically to the councils within the Ngai Tahu takiwa. While this is a unique situation within New Zealand (Ngai Tahu has mana whenua over most of the South Island and is the only iwi within many council areas),the tools and techniques discussed are relevant and applicable to other New Zealand councils when applied on a case-by-case basis and taking into account the variations between and within regions.
Guidance note
- Introduction
- Background
- Relationships and Internal Policies
- Plan and policy development processes
- Resource consent processes
- RMA Monitoring
- Public and applicant information and guidance
Introduction
This guidance note is based on the findings of a series of interviews undertaken by the Ministry for the Environment with 26 South Island councils within the Ngai Tahu takiwa in 2005 and 2006. The interviews focussed on the councils ' relationships and engagement with Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and were based on a set of qualitative questions developed as part of the Ministry's obligations under the Ngai Tahu Deed of Settlement.
This guidance note is based on the relationships and engagement that councils within the Ngai Tahu takiwa have with the iwi. It provides guidance to those and other New Zealand councils on tools and techniques to engage with tāngata whenua in RMA processes, whether mandatory or as best practice.
While this guidance focuses on examples of good practice, there is still much scope for improving tāngata whenua engagement in RMA processes. Much of the existing good practice relies on interpersonal relationships developed between council and tāngata whenua practitioners.
For the purpose of this document, iwi, whanau, hapu and runanga are collectively referred to as tāngata whenua.
Background
Ngai Tahu
Ngai Tahu is tāngata whenua over all but the most northern part of the South Island. Ngai Tahu is made up of whanau and hapu within 18 Papatipu Runanga, who hold mana whenua over particular areas within the takiwa. For more information on Ngai Tahu, see their website.
The extent of the Ngai Tahu takiwa is defined in the Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Act 1996 and recorded on Te W Kahui Mangai, a website directory of iwi and Maori organisations maintained by Te Puni Kokiri.
Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu was established as a body corporate under Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Act 1996 as a legal entity that represents the tribal collective of Ngai Tahu. This Act also establishes Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu as the iwi authority for the purposes of the RMA.
As the iwi authority, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu is required under the Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Act 1996 (section 15) to seek the views of Papatipu Runanga and hapu. In some areas, Papatipu Runanga have formed representative bodies to assist with engagement:
The Ngai Tahu Deed of Settlement and Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998
The Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 provides full and final settlement of historic Ngai Tahu Treaty claims against the Crown. This Act provides legislative means to implement the 1997 Deed of Settlement between Ngai Tahu and the Crown.
The key element of the settlement package for RMA practitioners is the recognition of the role of Ngai Tahu in environmental management, primarily through the RMA requirements relating to Statutory Acknowledgements and the recognition of areas and species of importance to Ngai Tahu.
Such Deeds of Settlement and associated legislation are not unique to Ngai Tahu. There are many settled treaty claims throughout New Zealand, and several more under negotiation. See the Office of Treaty Settlement website to view all the Deeds of Settlement, any associated legislation that has been entered into, and the progress of Treaty Claims negotiations between tāngata whenua and the Crown throughout New Zealand.
Statutory Acknowledgements
A Statutory Acknowledgement is an acknowledgement by the Crown that recognises the mana of a tāngata whenua group in relation to specified areas, particularly the cultural, spiritual, historical and traditional associations with an area. These acknowledgements are only given over Crown-owned land. 'Statutory areas ' include areas of land, geographic features, lakes, rivers, wetlands and coastal marine areas. The locations of statutory areas are shown on Survey Office plans held by Land Information New Zealand, with the text of each statement of association set out in Schedules to the Act that establishes them. There are 70 Statutory Acknowledgements contained in the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998.
The Deed of Settlement and the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 set out a series of requirements for councils, the Environment Court, the Historic Places Trust and the Ministry for the Environment in respect of Statutory Acknowledgements. These requirements are described below.
See the brochure Ngai Tahu Statutory Acknowledgments: A Guide for Local Authorities for more information.
Council Obligations for Statutory Acknowledgement areas within the Ngai Tahu Takiwa
A Council's obligations are to:
- identify all statutory areas within the region/district (see Recognising Statutory Acknowledgements)
- send Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu summaries of all new resource consent applications that affect statutory areas as soon as practicable after the applications are received, and before any decisions are made regarding notification (see Specific requirements for Statutory Acknowledgements)
- have regard to Statutory Acknowledgements when determining whether Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is adversely affected by an application (under section 95E and schedule 11 of the RMA)
- attach information relating to Statutory Acknowledgements to the regional/district plan (see Recognising Statutory Acknowledgements).
None of these obligations limit or affect the Council's overriding obligations under the RMA; particularly those matters contained in Part II.
The Ministry for the Environment 's Obligations under the Deed of Settlement
Under the Deed of Settlement, the Ministry for the Environment has an obligation to meet with all local authorities within the Ngai Tahu takiwa in order to monitor the performance of each council in implementing the Treaty provisions in the Resource Management Act 1991. This monitoring has formed the basis for this guidance note.
Relationship Agreements and Internal Council Policies
There are a number of ways a council can choose or be required to engage with tāngata whenua in RMA processes. These include engagement to:
- improve understanding and awareness of tāngata whenua values and concerns to be able to give due and appropriate consideration of sections 6(e), 6(f), 7(a) and 8 of the RMA matters
- inform plan and policy development processes under Clauses 3 and 3B of the First Schedule of the RMA
- determine how to take iwi planning documents into account under sections 61, 66 and 74 of the RMA
- determine whether tāngata whenua are an affected party for a resource consent application or a notice of requirement
- determine potential effects on the environment when considering a resource consent application under section 104 of the RMA.
Some of the means to ensure that such engagement occurs include:
- having good administrative systems & practices
- entering into relationship agreements with tāngata whenua within the region or district
- having clear internal council policies.
Relationship Agreements
The first step in entering any formal or informal relationship agreement with tāngata whenua is to develop a good and effective working relationship. Whanaungatanga, or relationship building, is a pervasive concept of Maoritanga. To tāngata whenua, relationships (with people, the spiritual world, and the physical world) are everything.
Relationship agreements are documents that formally acknowledge and identify the scope and extent of understanding and/or working relationships between a council and a specific tāngata whenua group who has mana whenua over a particular area or claims ahi ka (historical and spiritual ties to land within their boundaries).
Relationship agreements are not a mandatory requirement; however, they provide certainty to both the council and tāngata whenua of how they will work together.
See the Facilitating consultation with Tangata Whenua Guidance Note for more information on relationship agreements.
When entering into Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), protocols, terms of reference, or other form of relationship agreement, councils should consider:
- developing them with each mandated or representative tāngata whenua group within the district or region
- using multi-council MOU for areas of shared council and tāngata whenua interest to provide for consistent practice across councils (refer to the Southland Best Practice Example)
- the need to keep any agreement up to date with a regular review process, and to acknowledge both Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) and RMA processes.
Some components of agreements can include:
- agreeing on a formal process for how the council will deem whether tāngata whenua are an affected party within any Statutory Acknowledgement areas
- agreeing on how to identify sites of significance to tāngata whenua in a database that is accessible to people outside the council, and what elements to include in the database (refer to the Kaikoura District Council's Best Practice example)
- providing assistance to allow tāngata whenua to participate in council RMA and LGA processes (refer to the Southland Best Practice example and Kaikoura District Council Best Practice example ).
Internal Council Policies
Having clear internal council policies will help the council engage with tāngata whenua by ensuring consistency in approach and awareness of tāngata whenua values and concerns. Some of the matters that policies can address include:
- Identifying tāngata whenua groups within the district or region in an easily accessible way (refer to the Otago Regional Council Best Practice example and Environment Canterbury 's Best Practice example
- Having documented protocols in place for council use of iwi planning documents (refer to the Otago Regional Council Best Practice example and the Environment Canterbury Best Practice example).
- Putting in place procedures and systems to ensure that staff throughout the council are aware of issues of concern to tāngata whenua (refer to the Dunedin City Council Best Practice example).
- Providing staff training (through a mix of formal and informal measures), to raise awareness of tāngata whenua issues - both specific to their position and more widely relevant to their district or region (refer to the Environment Southland Best Practice example).
- Providing clear direction on where and when Maori Commissioners should be used in RMA decision making. Any policy should specifically address conflict of interest issues. The Use of Commissioners Guidance Note provides guidance on the use of Maori Commissioners (refer to the Kaikoura District Council Best Practice example).
- Ensuring that there is an understanding of Maori protocol among council staff and Councillors, and that this protocol is used at relevant hearings (refer to the Otago Regional Council Best Practice example).
Plan and Policy Development Process
To enable effective tāngata whenua participation, and understanding and awareness of tāngata whenua values and resource management issues in RMA plan and policy development processes, councils should:
- Maintain an accurate list and copies of all iwi planning documents that are recognised by iwi authorities within the district or region. Iwi planning documents should be:
- Available in electronic and hard copy
- Available and clearly located on the Council's intranet
- Analysed by council on receipt of the plan (refer to the Environment Canterbury Best Practice example and the Dunedin City Council Best Practice example).
- Use iwi planning documents as a starting point for policy development and consultation (refer to the Queenstown Lakes District Council Best Practice example).
- Document the use of relevant iwi planning documents in plan preparation (from the issue identification stage and onward) showing how they have been taken into account.
- Hold regular hui for tāngata whenua participation in plan preparation.
- Involve tāngata whenua in working parties.
- Work with tāngata whenua to develop and maintain an accessible database of sites of significance to tāngata whenua to inform plan and policy development (refer to the Kaikoura District Council Best Practice example).
- Consider resourcing tāngata whenua for the development of cultural impact assessments and iwi planning documents, participation in hearings committees, and meeting costs and fees, etc.
These methods of engaging and involving tāngata whenua in plan and policy development processes can be included as particular matters in any relationship agreement. Refer to the Environment Southland Best Practice example.
Recognising Statutory Acknowledgements
Along with any statutory requirements requiring that Statutory Acknowledgements be attached to any plan, councils should:
- Include the whole text of Statutory Acknowledgements in the plan and not just a reference.
- Ensure reference is made to coastal Statutory Acknowledgements (where applicable).
- Identify Statutory Acknowledgements on planning maps.
- Include appropriate provisions in the relevant district/regional plans, as well as the Statutory Acknowledgements themselves.
- Identify additional areas of importance to tāngata whenua in the district/regional plan.
- Clearly define the difference between Statutory Acknowledgements and Deeds of Recognition.
Refer to the Waimate District Council Best Practice example.
The Consultation for plan development, Facilitating consultation with tāngata whenua and Writing Provisions for Regional and District Plans guidance notes provide more guidance on Statutory Acknowledgments and incorporating them into Second Generation RMA Plans.
Resource Consent Processes
Section 36A of the RMA sets out that there is no duty to consult about resource consent applications and notices of requirement. However councils need to be able to determine whether there may be any potential adverse effects on tangata whenua.
Within the Council
Some of the formal processes that councils can use to determine whether tāngata whenua are an adversely affected party include:
- establishing formal processes in consultation and agreement with tāngata whenua
- promoting pre-application contact/consultation with tāngata whenua
- having rules in the plan that address issues of concern to tāngata whenua, including a clear activity status, such as restricted discretionary activities that require consideration of Maori cultural matters
- using iwi planning documents as a guide to identifying issues and concerns to tāngata whenua, particularly when the iwi planning document is yet to be taken into account through plan and policy development processes
- requiring a cultural impact assessment to form part of the assessment of environmental effects submitted with an application, where there are potential effects on areas or resources of known interest to tāngata whenua (refer to the Marlborough District Council Best Practice example).
By developing good relationships with tāngata whenua that go beyond issues formally addressed in plan rules, councils will create a broader understanding of issues of interest to iwi, and thereby enhance their ability to determine whether tāngata whenua are an adversely affected party. The Kaikoura District Council Best Practice example provides an example of a process that can be used to identify whether tāngata whenua are an adversely affected party.
Helping Applicants
Councils should provide sufficient information and guidance within their RMA planning documents so that applicants can determine issues or resource management activities of concern to tāngata whenua, and whether tāngata whenua may be adversely affected by a particular proposal.
Some of the methods that councils can use to ensure that applicants are aware of issues or resource management activities of concern to tāngata whenua include:
- identifying relevant issues, objectives, policies and rules in the district/regional plan and regional policy statement
- making copies of iwi planning documents available at their public counters and libraries (refer to the Otago Regional Council Best Practice example)
- referring to, and taking into account, iwi planning documents in the preparation of RMA planning documents (refer to the Queenstown Lakes District Council Best Practice example)
- encouraging applicants to use key staff to source information (for example, iwi liaison officers)
- holding regular wananga (workshops) with RMA stakeholders on specific issues
- making information brochures, prepared in conjunction with tāngata whenua, available to potential applicants (refer to Dunedin City Council example)
- making information easily accessible on the council website as part of resource consent guidance and forms.
- working with resource management consultants operating in the region/district to broker good relationship with tāngata whenua.
Conditions of Consent
Councils should use standard conditions to address specific activities of interest to tāngata whenua. Such conditions should be prepared in conjunction with tāngata whenua, and provide for an accidental discovery protocol (refer to the Gore District Council Best Practice example).
For more information on the resource consent process, see Consultation for resource consents, Conditions of a resource consent, To Notify or Not to Notify? That is the Question and the Consent Processing Resource.
Specific Requirements for Statutory Acknowledgements
Generally, Statutory Acknowledgements will require a council to forward copies of all resource consent applications received for a specified area to tāngata whenua. Relationship agreements should include processes established between the council and the tāngata whenua to determine the extent of tāngata whenua participation in resource consent applications. Generally, this is achieved by:
- sending a summary of all resource consent applications within a regular timeframe agreed with the tāngata whenua; and / or
- sending a full copy of all applications within (either impacting on, or adjacent to) a Statutory Acknowledgement area to tāngata whenua.
As communication, feedback and, ultimately, confidence is built between the council and tāngata whenua, then the need to send all applications through may be varied by agreement. Where agreement is reached, councils and tāngata whenua may agree that only certain types of applications and/or applications in specific areas are sent to tāngata whenua for review and input. A screening process should be used to determine the specific nature of activities that are of interest, and the frequency of delivery (refer to the Ashburton District Council Best Practice example).
The council and tangata whenua should agree on a formal process as to when the council would consider it appropriate to deem tangata whenua an affected party under section 95E of the RMA within any Statutory Acknowledgement area.
Some of the methods to identify whether tāngata whenua may be adversely affected include:
- Establishing formal processes in consultation with tāngata whenua (refer to the Dunedin City Council Best Practice example).
- Using the distribution of consents process required for Statutory Acknowledgements to identify where tāngata whenua may be adversely affected.
- Promoting pre-application contact/consultation with tāngata whenua.
- Having clear rules in the plan that address issues of concern to tāngata whenua, including a clear activity status, and where appropriate, either recommending consultation or requiring written approvals.
- Developing good relationships with tāngata whenua to understand issues of interest outside those addressed through plan rules.
RMA Monitoring
Section 35 of the RMA sets out specific matters that councils must monitor within their region or district, including:
- the state of the environment
- the efficiency and effectiveness of its RMA planning documents
- the exercise of resource consents
Section 35A imposes a particular duty for councils to keep records about iwi and hapū within their region or district. Section 35A requires that councils keep a record of:
- The contact details of each iwi authority within the region or district and any groups within the region or district that represent hapu for the purposes of the RMA.
- The planning documents that are recognised by each iwi authority and lodged with the council.
- Any area of the region or district over which one or more iwi or hapu exercise kaitiakitanga.
Section 360(1)(hk) allows the Minister to make regulations requiring councils to provide information under sections 35 and 35A within a specified timeframe.
The Crown also has obligations under section 35A of the RMA to provide councils with information on the above matters. Te Puni Kōkiri provides this information for the Crown through the website Te Kāhui Māngai.
Iwi may have internal process or units set up to deal with resource management matters. Councils should also note these processes and include any information obtained from the relevant iwi authority or hapu in their records.
Councils should involve tāngata whenua in their RMA monitoring duties under s35 of the RMA where appropriate. Some ways include:
- involving tāngata whenua in monitoring district/regional plans, particularly the cultural chapters and provisions, and where iwi planning documents have been taken into account
- specifically involving tāngata whenua in monitoring consent conditions relating to Maori cultural values
- involving tāngata whenua in site monitoring when artefacts/sites of significance are discovered
- investigating the use of the Cultural Health Index (CHI) to assess the health of fresh water.
Refer to the Environment Canterbury Best Practice example.
Specific Requirements for Statutory Acknowledgements
A council should maintain a record of the number of resource consent applications received that affect a Statutory Acknowledgement. This information should be recorded and easily searchable from within Council's resource consents database. Councils could include a reference on the resource consent application form to identify if a Statutory Acknowledgement is affected.
Refer to the Environment Canterbury Best Practice example, the Gore District Council Best Practice Example and the Otago Regional Council Best Practice example.
For more information on a Council's monitoring responsibilities under s35 of the RMA, see the Monitoring and Reporting One-Stop-Shop.
Public and Applicant Information and Guidance
In addition to establishing clear objectives, policies and rules within RMA planning documents relating to tāngata whenua values and concerns, councils should ensure that both the public and applicants are aware of these values and concerns, and who relevant tāngata whenua are.
Some of the methods to achieve this include:
- having copies of all iwi planning documents that are recognised by iwi authorities available at both the public counter and libraries and, where possible, on the internet
- jointly preparing information brochures with tāngata whenua
- making information available on the Council's website
- making information available to applicants at the pre-application stage
- sending contact information to regular applicants and including it on application forms
- including contact information in the district/regional plan, such as the name(s) of iwi and hapu in the district/region and where up-to-date contact details can be found.
Refer to the Dunedin City Council Best Practice example.
Best Practice Examples
Identifying hapu / runanga and key individuals:
Otago Regional Council contacts database and contacts procedures manual.
Environment Canterbury 's contact information for all runanga.
Relationship agreements between tāngata whenua and councils:
Environment Southland, Invercargill District Council, Southland District Council, and Gore District Council's Charter of Understanding with Te Ao Marama Inc
Iwi planning documents:
Environment Canterbury 's approach
Otago Regional Council's approach
Assistance for tāngata whenua engagement:
Environment Southland, Invercargill District Council, Southland District Council, and Gore District Council's funding agreement with Te Ao Marama Inc
Kaikoura District Council's funding for Maori practitioners.
Recording sites of significance:
Kaikōura District Council's approach
Awareness of issues and resource management activities:
Dunedin City Council's approach
Council staff awareness of issues of concern to tāngata whenua:
Environment Southland 's approach
Use of Māori Planning Commissioners:
Kaikoura District Council's policy on the use of Maori Planning Commissioners
Maori protocol at council hearings:
Otago Regional Council's information on Maori protocol
tāngata whenua involvement in RMA plan development processes:
Environment Southland 's approach to iwi involvement
Queenstown Lakes District Council's approach to iwi involvement
Identifying Statutory Acknowledgements:
Waimate District Council's approach to identifying Statutory Acknowledgements.
Identifying tāngata whenua as affected parties:
Kaikoura District Council's approach
Cultural impact assessments:
Marlborough District Council's use of cultural impact assessments
Applicant awareness of issues of concerns to tāngata whenua:
Dunedin City Council brochure
Identifying whether tāngata whenua should be notified about resource consent applications, or consulted:
Ashburton District Council's approach
Means of making tāngata whenua aware of consents of interest:
Dunedin City Council's resource consent protocol
Conditions of consent for sites of significance:
Gore District Council's standard condition
tāngata whenua involvement in RMA monitoring:
Environment Canterbury 's approach
Statutory Acknowledgement register:
Environment Canterbury 's recording of consents affecting Statutory Acknowledgement areas.
Gore District Council's resource consent database
Recording Ngai Tahu as affected party within Statutory Acknowledgement areas:
Otago Regional Council's recording system
Public information on consultation with tāngata whenua:
Dunedin City Council's public information
Case Law
Case law on tāngata whenua engagement, both mandatory and as best practice, is still evolving.
The Ministry for the Environment 2003 publication, Guidelines for Consulting with Tāngata Whenua under the RMA: An Update on Case Law, provides a summary of case law on consultation with tāngata whenua, and applies it to RMA practice and processes. However, the document does not reflect s36A of the RMA that sets out that there is no duty to consult for resource consent applications or notices of requirement.
Related Guidance Notes
- Assessing the application and the assessment of environmental effects
- Consultationfor resource consents
- Consultation for plan development
- Consultation with tāngata whenua
- Frequently asked questions about cultural impact assessments
- Historic Heritage
- Indigenous Biodiversity
- Landscapes
- Notified and limited notified resource consent applications
- Conditions of a resource consent
- Writing Provisions for Regional and District Plans
- To notify or not to notify?
- Use of Commissioners
Relevant Publications
Co-management: case studies involving local authorities and Maori
Published by Local Government New Zealand, January 2007.
This report records practices and experiences of the parties involved in co-management arrangements between local authorities and Maori. Five case studies are reported and key elements identified and discussed.
Council-Maori engagement.
Published by Local Government New Zealand, January 2007.
This information sheet identifies the statutory responsibilities and benefits of council-Maori engagement, along with opportunities for strengthening engagement.
Frequently asked questions on council-Maori engagement - a resource to support councils.
Published by Local Government New Zealand, January 2007.
This report answers the questions frequently asked by councils about council-Maori engagement under the Local Government Act 2002.
Te Kotahitanga o te Whakahaere Rawa - Maori and Council Engagement under the Resource Management Act 1991
Published by Te Puni Kokiri, 2006.
This report documents the findings from a series of meetings about Maori involvement in RMA processes, held around the country between Maori, local government, and central government. The report identifies examples of processes and structures, with the aim of helping Maori and councils to enhance their working relationships.
Effective participation in resource consent processes
Published by the Ministry for the Environment, 2005.
This document aims to help tāngata whenua participate effectively in resource consent decision-making. It explains the Resource Management Act and its importance to tāngata whenua; how and when tāngata whenua can get involved in resource consent decision making; what tāngata whenua need to do to participate effectively; and what tāngata whenua can expect and what is expected of them. Even though it predates the 2005 Amendments to the RMA, it is still of practical application to tāngata whenua.
Maori Tribal Governance Arrangements and their relevance to local government
Published 2005; available on the Local Government New Zealand website.
This research paper identifies Maori tribal governance arrangements and determines their relevancy to local government.
Local government engagement with Maori
Published by Te Puni Kōkiri, the Department of Internal Affairs and Local Government New Zealand, 2004.
This document presents the findings of a survey undertaken in 2004 to identify current practices used by councils when working with or engaging with tāngata whenua.
Guidelines for consultation with tāngata whenua under the RMA
Published by the Ministry for the Environment, 2003.
This document provides a summary of case law on tāngata whenua consultation, and provides guidance on how the case law applies to RMA practice and processes.
Whakamau ki Ngā Kaupapa - Making the best of iwi management plans under the Resource Management Act 1991
Published by the Ministry for the Environment, 2003.
This guide provides a practical summary of ideas to help local authorities make the most of iwi management plans and other iwi planning documents. It provides suggestions about how council staff and their consultants can work more effectively with iwi and represent their views in district and regional planning processes using iwi management plans as a focus and starting point.
Māori participation in local government webpage
Department of Internal Affairs; www.localcouncils.govt.nz.
This web page on the Department of Internal Affairs website provides Maori with information and guidance on ways that Māori can become involved in council decision making processes.
Ngai Tahu: Statutory Acknowledgements
Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and the Ministry for the Environment, 2002.
This flyer provides general information for resource consent applications on the implications for resource consent applications arising from the Deed of Settlement and the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998.
Talking constructively: A practical guide for building agreements between iwi, hapū and whānau, and local authorities
Published by the Ministry for the Environment, 2000.
This guide is designed to be a practical summary to help iwi, hapu and whanau and local authorities to prepare for all forms of joint discussions including mediation.
Te Raranga a Mahi: Developing Environmental Management Plans for Whānau, Hapū and Iwi
Published by the Ministry for the Environment, 2000.
This manual seeks to provide whanau, hapu and iwi with tools to prepare Iwi Planning Documents.
Ngāi Tahu Statutory Acknowledgements: A Guide for Local Authorities
Published by the Ministry for the Environment, 1999.
This document provides guidance for local authorities on the implications of Statutory Acknowledgements, the Deed of Settlement and the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 for RMA processes.
Challenges in Practice
- Providing assistance to allow for Maori practitioners to participate in council RMA and LGA processes.
- Strategic and succession planning for tāngata whenua.
- Recording sites of significance to tāngata whenua.
- Sharing information within a council - database, iwi/tangata whenua training programmes.
Identification of Maori Commissioners and providing training for them.
Acknowledgements
This guidance document was prepared in 2008 by Gina Sweetman of Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd, based on interviews undertaken by the Ministry for the Environment. The document was further shaped and refined by Kate Sedgley of the Ministry for the Environment. The document was peer reviewed by Chris Rosenbrock of Kāi Tahu ki Otago Ltd.
It was further updated to reflect the RMAA 2009, by Erica Sefton of The Project House Ltd in November 2009.
