Cultural heritage landscapes, ontological challenges and environmental justice in Aotearoa 1990-2020

This item is part of: Boarin, P., Haarhoff, E., Manfredini, M., Mohammadzadeh, M., Premier, A., (2021). Rethinking Sustainable Pacific Rim Territories. Proceedings of the 2020 APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Hub PhD Symposium, Future Cities Research Hub, School of Architecture and Planning of the University of Auckland. ISBN: 978-0-473-53616-9

ABSTRACT

This paper summarises legal and planning statutes as they relate to cultural heritage landscapes and indigenous heritage. Since the mid 1990’s government agencies and heritage groups have attempted to develop structures and drafted policies for better protection of Māori heritage and cultural heritage landscapes. They have covered a wide and complex range of needs and values but, to date, have failed to embed better protective laws and policies with more effective outcomes. Through a socio-political critique of heritage law, planning and policy development in Aotearoa over the last 40 years the power relationships between different heritage ontologies in Aotearoa is explored.

Further, this paper offers insights into Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, particularly principles of kāwanatanga (governance) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). Expanding on the work of Huhana Smith (2013) shows how a cultural heritage landscape approach, if applied, would better address Te Tiriti obligations.

Finally, the paper will highlight elements of the #protectihumātao campaign in Auckland that demonstrates the current weaknesses of heritage planning regimes and environmental regimes in Aotearoa.