Building Resilience and Adaptation into Mana Whakahono a Rohe

This kaupapa, led by Papa Pounamu with support from Ngā Kairapu, worked alongside iwi and hapū kaitiaki, council staff, councillors, and Māori planners to develop practical guidance for Mana Whakahono a Rohe partnership agreements. The research responds to an urgent need for proactive, supportive resources that strengthen Māori planning practice and uphold rangatiratanga, mātauranga, tikanga and kawa within the resource management system.

Recognising capacity constraints on both iwi/hapū and councils, the project used an action‑research approach grounded in te ao Māori principles, kotahitanga, whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, and aroha to support both sides of the Treaty partnership. Seven publicly available resources were produced, forming a kete to help iwi/hapū and councils scope, understand, develop, and implement Mana Whakahono agreements.

Here is a list of resources produced:

• He Ara Honohono: Themes from developing and implementing Mana Whakahono agreements - an overview of the pathway to initiate, draft, sign and implement a Mana Whakahono agreement for iwi/hapū and councils.
• He Kete Mātauranga: Information sheets - offering an Overview of Mana Whakahono agreements; Mana Whakahono ā Rohe and climate change, natural hazards and emergency management; and Mana Whakahono ā Rohe and Fast-track Approvals Act.
• He Kupu Ārahi - Iwi/hapū: Guidance for iwi/hapū -  including guidance for kaimahi and for iwi/hapū governance.
• He Kupu Ārahi - Kaunihera: Guidance for councils - including guidance for council staff and councillors.
• He Ara Honohono: Tools for iwi/hapū – comprising: 
  • Te Tīmatatanga: Scoping a Mana Whakahono agreement tool
  • Te Horopaki: Understanding your existing agreements tool
  • Te Whiriwhiringa: Drafting a Mana Whakahono agreement tool