He Ara Tuku Rau abundance framework
with Te Mata Pūau | MANAWATŪ - WHANGANUI
The why!
The Whanganui River Claims Settlement Act (2017), or Te Awa Tupua, requires any awa-related resource consent applicants and decision-makers to work under Tupua te Kawa, a values-driven additional obligation that surpasses any requirements for engagement with iwi under the Resource Management Act.
The He Ara Tuku Rau assessment framework and model was developed to support decision making in Te Pūwaha (Whanganui Port revitalisation project) by hapū of Whanganui. It is a way of working in a Tupua-te-Kawa-consistent way within their rohe; and aims to promote substantially higher level of engagement with hapū and iwi within the community that Te Awa Tupua obligates.
How did we assist?
We worked alongside Te Mata Pūau (representatives of Whanganui hapū) to develop this abundance-focussed assessment framework and model that supports putting the awa at the centre of all decision-making. TCG were uniquely placed to develop this conceptual framework due to Fleur Maseyk’s expertise in natural capital-focussed ecosystem services approaches, sustainability models, and effects management; along with our extensive publication record in this area and deep understanding of consenting and planning processes.
These theoretical foundations were reframed in a way that aligns with the values, guidance, and direction of the local hapū, and reflects the indivisibility of the environment and the people; noting that a ‘lack of abundance’ (natural resource scarcity) is a limiting factor of human wellbeing.
The He Ara Tuku Rau framework enables historic losses to be acknowledged and addressed as well as providing a pathway to avoid new adverse effects. It sets a long-term vision and goals for enhancement across multiple dimensions. It emphasises restoration and the concept of abundance, can incorporate existing models, methods and tools (or those designed for a specific project), and can be applied commensurate to the scale of the project being looked at.
What happened?
Te Pūwaha port revitalisation project is the first true example of a project has been progressed through the lens of the new legal status of Te Awa Tupua and Tupua te Kawa. He Ara Tuku Rau being applied to inform decision-making and underpin the restoration programme within the consenting requirements of the Te Pūwaha project.