Mana Whenua, Mataawaka, and Local Government. An Examination of Relationships Between Maori and Local Government in Wellington and the Hutt Valley

This thesis is about governance relationships between Maori and local governments. The research has used a Kaupapa Maori methodology which has aimed at identifying areas of ongoing colonial practice, while also highlighting Maori values, rules and institutions. The thesis has been grounded in Wellington and the Hutt Valley, and investigated the historical and contemporary relationships between British-informed local government and Taranaki Whanui ki te Upoko o te Ika. A key focus has examined how local government legislation has failed to meet Maori te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti/ the Treaty) expectations of partnership, resulting in on going debate over how Maori are involved in local decision-making. In particular, the thesis has analysed the Local Government Act 2002, and the Local Electoral Act 2001, both pieces of legislation which are meant to support Te Tiriti / the Treaty. Examination of the Local Government Act 2002, reveals that partnership remains a contentious proposition for local governments. Examination of the Local Electoral Act 2001, demonstrates how local governments are unwilling and unable to support Maori as local decision-makers. I argue that neither of these pieces of legislation can produce Te Tiriti / the Treaty partnership as they are only informed by western legal ideas which are sourced in colonial practices of local governance. Although these arguments are also true in Wellington and the Hutt Valley, by examining local government relationships with both mana whenua (iwi) and mataawaka (Maori from outside of Wellington and the Hutt Valley) there is clear evidence of how Maori governing rules and institutions continue to influence how Maori and local governments engage

Towards a fairer and more tika political science and politics: Are political science programs equipping students adequately for Aotearoa realities?

Social and political change is occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand and tikanga, mātauranga, te reo Māori (the Māori language) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) are increasingly being recognised in diverse political and legal contexts. This article explores whether the political science discipline in Aotearoa New Zealand is keeping pace with these political changes, whether research and course content is adequately reflecting these new realities, and if students are appropriately equipped to participate. In particular, we examine the state of university politics programs and outline the form and quantity of Māori politics in the teaching and research of these programs. From the assessment of the current state of politics programs, we make some observations about what changes may be required to ensure politics programs, their students and academics are fully equipped to work in the unique political and legal landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand. From the collection of this data, we have found that approximately 1% of political science lecturers are Māori, 1% of content taught can be classified as Māori politics and approximately 1% of publications in the New Zealand Political Science journal can be classified as kaupapa Māori politics. This 1–1–1 crisis provides a bleak picture of the existing arrangements in politics programs in Aotearoa New Zealand and must change

Fostering sustainable tribal economies in a time of climate change

In this article, we explore how Maori tribal organisations are responding to calls by other Indigenous peoples to become more sustainable in a time of climate change. From a close examination of tribal Environmental Management Plans, we move to a specific case study in the Bay of Plenty area, Ngati Kea/Ngati Tuara. Ultimately, we suggest that many tribal organisations are seeking to respond to climate change and transition to becoming producers of their own food and energy needs, and are often articulating these responses in relation to specific local resources and contexts. © 2014 New Zealand Geographical Society