In the Pipeline :: Abstracts

Gail Tipa

Independent Researcher

Maori and Waterways: The Cultural Opportunity Assessment Tool

This presentation describes a newly developed tool, a Cultural Opportunity Assessment, that enables Maori to identify, order, assess and address the issues, from a cultural perspective, that are associated with flow regimes of streams and rivers.

Many Maori (and indeed other indigenous communities) want it to be explicit how flow management decisions restore, enhance and protect their cultural association with waterways. However a means of effectively engaging with resource managers is required.

In this presentation we describe Cultural Opportunity Mapping and Cultural Opportunity Assessments that we have developed. Specifically, we will present -

firstly: a framework for structuring a discussion of cultural values, understanding the depth and complexity of cultural relationships with aquatic ecosystems as a first step in developing initiatives that are grounded within a cultural domain.
Secondly: a tool – the Cultural Opportunity Assessment – that has been developed to enable Maori to participate in the setting of flow regimes.
Thirdly, the results of Maori applying the tool, in catchments of traditional significance.

While the tool that is described is specific to Maori, the methods used to develop the tool will be of relevance to other cultures and indeed to social scientists seeking to integrate community values in freshwater management.

Email:gtipa@xtra.co.nz