Kaitiakitanga
Kaitiakitanga entails the active protection and responsibility for natural and physical resources by tangata whenua. Exercise of kaitiakitanga requires both a role in decision making and the achievement of environmental outcomes. The governance at zonal, regional and national scales under this strategy is therefore very important to the achievement of kaitiakitanga.
Here's how things are progressing against 2025 goals. View information on:
Working together in partnership
By 2025: Institutional capability within local government to deliver the principle of kaitiakitanga in water management.
Has this goal been met?
- Since the last reporting period, Environment Canterbury has implemented capacity-building initiatives such as Te Tiriti o Waitangi training, te reo Māori classes, noho marae, and operational training.
- A new Senior Advisor, Mātauranga Pūtaiao role at Environment Canterbury has been established to develop and drive a coordinated organisational approach to matāuranga Māori, with a focus on equipping science staff to value, recognise and integrate mātauranga Māori within their work.
- Environment Canterbury will launch a leadership development programme with Mokowhiti Consultancy and expand Te Tiriti capacity building.
- Environment Canterbury will review relevant internal policy and guidance.
- Further work is required by territorial authorities.
By 2025: A review of the level at which Ki Uta Ki Tai environmental management philosophies have been integrated into zone and regional planning is completed.
Has the goal been met?
While a formal review has not been completed, these philosophies continue to be actively incorporated into the planning framework for Waitaha/Canterbury through the active committee membership of Papatipu Rūnanga representatives and an emerging understanding by all community members of these principles. Environment Canterbury also actively engages with Papatipu Rūnanga through special working groups, to support their input into regional plans.
- Since 2021, significant work has gone into developing an integrated planning framework in collaboration with Papatipu Rūnanga.
- Recent amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) have paused work on notifying the new Regional Policy Statement (RPS).
- In 2024, Selwyn District Council adopted the Waiora One Water Strategy in partnership with Te Taumutu Rūnanga and Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga to produce an agreed strategic framework and roadmap for those involved in water management to uphold the mana and mauri of all water across Selwyn.
- The planning work programme for 2025 to 2030 includes several key initiatives designed to support integrated environmental management and ki uta ki tai philosophies. These include:
- Plan Change 8 to the Land and Water Regional Plan, which is currently under consideration pending further discussions with the Ministry for the Environment.
- A phased review of the Regional Coastal Environment Plan
- The continued development of an Integrated Regional Plan.
- The Waiora One Water Strategy will direct planning, development and investment across Selwyn with a 50-year outlook.
By 2025: Investigate opportunities for partnership programmes to be developed and implemented for waterbodies nominated by PapatipuRūnanga.
Has the goal been met?
New partnership opportunities have been identified, but only one additional programme has been implemented since 2021. While Environment Canterbury continues to play a key role in catchment-based partnership programmes, progress has been slower than anticipated. However, several new initiatives are emerging, and existing programmes have made measurable achievements in environmental restoration and partnership.
- Expansion of existing programmes including Te Mōkihi, Whakaora Te Waihora, Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour, and the Waitarakao Partnership.
- Breaking ground on the Te Repo o Papatahora wetland project.
- The Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon Catchment Strategy has been approved, incorporating mahinga kai outcomes.
- Environment Canterbury will work with Papatipu Rūnanga to identify and establish new partnership programmes where possible.
- Maintain achievement of annual Mahinga Kai targets for projects developed through partnerships with Papatipu Rūnanga.
- Ensure continued delivery and success of existing partnership programmes.
Wāhi Taonga and mahinga kai
By 2025: Support Papatipu Rūnanga to develop wāhi taonga (including freshwater mātaitai and Fenton Reserves) for mahinga kai.
Has this goal been met?
- As a part of the Kaitiakitanga Mahinga Kai programme, between 2021 and 2024, 31 sites of environmental and cultural significance to Papatipu Rūnanga were identified.
- The Kaitiakitanga Mahinga Kai programme supported Papatipu Rūnanga to develop wahi taonga by funding a mix of restoration, protection, monitoring and capability building projects.
- The programme is on track with 2025 projects still to be identified.
- CWMS partners will progress the development of a mahinga kai food gathering standard.
- Maintain outcomes achieved since the last reporting period through adequate resourcing and funding.
- Complete a review of how Environment Canterbury provides resourcing to support the Tuia partnership and mahinga kai outcomes.
By 2025: At-risk freshwater taonga species (e.g. kēkēwai, kākahi, long-finned and short-finned tuna) are identified and protection zones are put in place.
Has the goal been met?
Significant progress has been made in identifying and protecting at-risk freshwater taonga species such as kēkēwai (freshwater crayfish), kākahi (freshwater mussels), and tuna (eels). Key initiatives, including protection zones, habitat restoration, mātauranga Māori monitoring, and fish passage improvements, have contributed to this progress. However, further expansion of protection zones, restoration efforts, and long-term sustainability measures are still required to fully meet the goal.
- Plan Change 7 to the LWRP introduced mapping of known "critical habitats" for 11 regionally threatened freshwater species, requiring resource consents and avoidance/mitigation for activities within these areas.
- The Selwyn Te Waihora Cultural Landscape Values Management Area and Waitaki catchment now have mahinga kai protection requirements.
- 1,700+ indigenous plants were planted at Chain Hills Wetland, 119 km² of willow control was carried out in Wainono/Waihao, and predator control at Kaitōrete Spit supports freshwater taonga species initiatives - see Yearly summary of our work.
- Improved fish screening facilities now help migratory species, and a review programme is in place to assess the effectiveness of fish passage regulations.
- Both the Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy and Canterbury Pest Management Plan are due for review and revival prior to 2030. These will contribute to the ongoing identification and protection of at-risk freshwater taonga species.
- Early work has commenced to consider the further evolution of a broader framework for how mātauranga Māori is used, applied and protected by Environment Canterbury to inform our work, including the identification of and protection of at-risk freshwater species.
- Through Environment Canterbury’s regional planning work, we will continue to set direction to protect terrestrial habitat. Habitat protection and enhancement will lead to better outcomes for at-risk species.
By 2025: Investing in initiatives that support Papatipu Rūnanga to maintain rangatiratanga over their intergenerational cultural knowledge and practice.
Has the goal been met?
Funding, partnership programmes, and co-governance initiatives support Papatipu Rūnanga in exercising rangatiratanga over their intergenerational cultural knowledge and practices. While investment and engagement have strengthened decision-making roles, further scaling of initiatives are needed to fully meet this goal.
- Initiatives like Whakaora Te Waihora, Te Mōkihi, and Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour have provided Rūnanga with direct involvement in environmental management and decision-making.
- Funding allocations by Environment Canterbury including from the Tuia Grant Fund, the Kaitiakitanga Mahinga Kai Fund, and through CWMS Zone Committee Action Plan budgets, have directly supported Papatipu Rūnanga-led projects since 2021.
- The passing of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Act 2022 has brought Papatipu Rūnanga decision makers to the Council table.
- Continued grant funding is expected to be provided to support Papatipu Rūnanga to undertake environmental work, in line with the aspirations of this goal.
- A programme to update the Tuia relationship agreement between Environment Canterbury and Papatipu Rūnanga is underway. This is intended to strengthen partnerships with Papatipu Rūnanga and embed long term collaboration.