The Wellington region is awesome, but te taiao is in trouble.

Many precious native species, and the places they live in, are still under threat and suffer from decades of being degraded and insufficiently valued. This is despite many restoration efforts by iwi, community groups, landowners, businesses and government agencies. We need to turn the current course around.

What was needed was a diverse group of informed people to stand back, look at the big picture and come up with some new thinking. Another formal biodiversity strategy, or a replacement for the rules that protect nature were not required, nor did Mauri Tūhono have the mandate for these formal roles. Rather, we needed to weave together more of the many values and strands of knowledge about our taiao. It needed a hard look at shared values, a common focus, and stronger leadership and succession plans. It needed to ask ‘what would help more people work together more?’

A framework helps unite people. We see a framework as a set of values and ideas that can help people see how they contribute to a bigger picture, not a set of instructions that tells others what to do.

A framework allows us to think big and deep. We propose a long-term vision which has seven strands.

A framework can inspire new ways of thinking and doing. We propose region-wide transforming shifts that we think are needed for the vision to come true.

A framework is not an action plan. However, we provide a summary of where we are now and examples of the types of actions that we think could be taken in the first years of implementation.

We hope that everyone will be prompted to think about their values, beliefs, visions. We propose a vision with seven strands that we hope are inspiring, uniting and transforming. This can help focus us all on why we do our work and where we are headed. It challenges us to include everyone, and every place.

The framework suggests seven broad shifts in the way we do things, so we can reach the vision. It is an invitation for us all to think about if, and how, we need to make these shifts in the way we care for te taiao – individually and collectively.

This framework can act as a basis for developing action plans based on strong values, to weave together and grow our efforts. For now, it gives examples of actions that can support the shifts in non-statutory action for nature.

We expect implementing the framework will include developing action plans and possibly new structures or systems.

Mauri Tūhono expects that better short, medium or long-term outcomes for te taiao in the Wellington region (Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui) could include:

• More restored habitats

• More mountains-to-sea or landscape-scale connectivity

• Mana whenua strengthened in their leadership roles as Tiriti partners and kaitiaki

• Stronger iwi, hapū and community restoration groups and networks

• Stronger relationships across the conservation and restoration sector

• A wide range of knowledge being shared, stored and passed down through the generations

• More, and more diverse, mana whenua and community action

• Leaps in biodiversity gains on land that is used for primary production

• Joined up thinking across the land, rivers and coastal areas and climate

• More innovation in conservation and restoration practices

• Better quality funding and resourcing

• A growing movement for nature

Tangata whenua are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. They were the original inhabitants living autonomously throughout Aotearoa.

Tangata whenua have varying origin stories which connect them to Aotearoa New Zealand. There are descendants of the Wellington region who have ancestry to ‘Te Kāhui Maunga’, an original people responsible for traditions pertaining to landform, waterway creation and protective environmental guardians. This narrative is validated and retained today through iwi and hapū oral sources. The arrival of hapū and iwi into the region was cemented through inter-marriage, that ensured inter-generational continuity and ancestral legacy. The distinct expressions of this are experienced today, through the six iwi and many hapū located throughout Te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui.

Tangata Tiriti are all the people who arrived and live in Aotearoa New Zealand as a result of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Tangata Tiriti recognise the Tiriti partnership agreed between the Crown and tangata whenua.

Tangata Tiriti understand that power inequities have occurred for tangata whenua since colonisation. Tangata Tiriti are committed to working to redress these inequities by supporting tangata whenua in critical areas such as power sharing and decision making, self-determination and planning, resource allocation and positive relationship building.

Hapū and iwi affiliate through successive ancestral connection and lived experiences within a defined locational area or region. Every hapū and iwi are guardians of their own mātauranga.

Hapū and iwi hold mana whenua or original authority, obligations and responsibility over a defined area. When hapū and iwi exercise their authority, obligations and responsibilities, it is known as mana motuhake.

Mātauranga is the traditional body of knowledge, relationships, systems, processes and practices upheld by hapū and iwi and has been acquired over successive generations. As a collective traditional body of knowledge, the mana or authority rests with each whānau, hapū and iwi to share this at their own discretion. Sharing always implies a set of relational obligations and responsibilities back to the original source of the knowledge.

Respectfully develop rapport and maintain trusting relationships with iwi and hapū who hold mana whenua.

Encourage and support the continual learning of local stories from iwi and hapū who hold mana whenua.

Work in partnership with local hapū and iwi, to co-create projects of mutual benefit to you and your community.

Develop ways in which local iwi and hapū can be included in your governance body or strategic decision-making processes.

Train volunteers and staff members in your group or organisation about local kawa and tikanga to ensure cultural safety, confidence and proficiency.

Offer your knowledge, support or expertise to hapū or iwi-led projects.

This framework does not replace existing strategies and policies but we hope over time it will influence how they are implemented within the Wellington region. The following documents and initiatives and others have been considered as we have drafted this framework:

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Treaty settlements and iwi management plans

Te Mana o Te Taiao: Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy

New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement

National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management

Te Mana o Te Wai freshwater policy

National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity

The Department of Conservation’s Wellington Conservation Management Strategy

Greater Wellington proposed Natural Resources Plan

Whaitua plans in the Wellington region

Greater Wellington Biodiversity Strategy

District plans and biodiversity strategies in the Wellington region

Waikanae ki Uta ki Tai partnership project for the Waikanae Awa

Wairarapa Pūkaha to Kawakawa Alliance

Predator Free 2050

The National Science Challenges

Addressing New Zealand’s biodiversity challenge: five recommendations for change (Local Government NZ 2017 think piece*)

We hope the framework can weave together the work of other conservation and restoration organisations by:

• building a common vision and values

• inspiring new ways of thinking and doing and asking what it might take to support the changes

• asking about the need for resources to support region wide cooperation.

We want to reiterate that a framework is not an action plan. Action plans tend to provide the detail of what, how, by who and when.

However, to help join the dots, the framework provides examples of the types of actions that we have discussed that could be taken initially toward the vision we have for te taiao. We want to encourage your own ideas and actions so please don’t be limited by what has been provided here. The taiao needs us all, everyone, everywhere.

The project started out as the Wellington Regional Biodiversity Framework. It is a project to better coordinate our efforts and achieve gains for biodiversity conservation in the Wellington region. It is a partnership between Greater Wellington, mana whenua partners, and the Department of Conservation. It is also being informed by the perspectives of local authorities, community groups, non-government organisations, land managers and many others.

The objectives for the project are to:

1. Develop a vision and framework for supporting and joining up efforts to enhance native biodiversity across the Wellington region.

2. Improve and better connect biodiversity efforts in our region across national, regional and local priorities.

There is a formal Terms of Reference that was set in 2019. A couple of things have changed since this was set:

• The time frame has extended due to the complications of COVID 19 restrictions and the necessary time required to do this work well.

• Mana whenua members of the working group now represent their own iwi directly. At the start of the project they were reporting to the Ara Tahi regional leadership committee as advisors rather than representing their iwi directly. However, this committee no longer convenes. Iwi who do not have direct representation on Mauri Tūhono have been offered the opportunity to input and participate.

A diverse group of thinkers and doers, who answered a challenge from Greater Wellington to propose a framework to transform how we relate to nature across the Wellington region (Te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui)

The group worked hard to pool wide-ranging experience, knowledge and connections. They also considered a diverse range of views and information from outside the group. They acknowledge that they cannot speak for everyone or every interest in the region.

• Sharlene Maoate-Davis (Co-chair), Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai representative

• Rawiri Smith (Co-chair), Kahungunu ki Wairarapa representative

• Sharli-Jo Solomon, Ngāti Toa Rangatira representative

• Jenny Ngarimu, Taranaki Whānui representative

• Paul Blaschke (establishment Co-chair)

• Zoe Studd

• Daniela Biaggio

• Sam Ludden

• Andy McKay

• Te Raukura Solomon

• Steve Bielby, Department of Conservation

• Ali Caddy, Greater Wellington

We also wish to thank previous members for their valued contribution:

• Quentin Duthie

• Barry Wards

• Danielle Shanahan

• Paul Shortis

• Paul Ward

• Liam Daly

In 2018 Greater Wellington held workshops to hear from practitioners from across the region. Based on these hui the Terms of Reference for the project were established. There were then public calls for applications and the group members were selected on several criteria including their knowledge, the different perspectives they were able to bring, and capacity to work on a complex and collaborative piece of work.

The group developed its own tikanga and kawa to ensure a good partnership approach under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the building of strong bonds between members.

The group worked hard to pool its wide-ranging experience, knowledge and connections. They also considered a diverse range of views and information from outside the group, including:

• Feedback received through the regional workshops held in 2018

• Reviewing gaps in current knowledge about the state of te taiao, effective solutions to threats and people’s connection to te taiao and each other

• Looking at the insights and restoration outcomes that mātauranga Māori can offer

• Reviewing current gaps in coordinating voluntary restoration efforts, and how they fit with the laws and regulations

• Talking to te ao Māori experts and advisors

• Seeking input from landowner representatives and community restoration volunteers.

Yes! Please contact us at naumai@maurituhono.org.nz and someone will get in touch.

We see Mauri Tūhono being a regional movement for nature, for everyone, everywhere. This framework is the first step towards collectivising our strengths and unifying our perspectives. We will continue to need a wider a set of people and organisations involved in this kaupapa as we co-design further steps together.

You can keep up to date with what’s happening here.