Socioeconomic Implications Relating to Settlement of Forestry Claims in Contemporary New Zealand

Abstract

There is little disputation concerning the importance of environmental and social benefits pertaining to forests in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Aside from being central to climate change response efforts, they have provided important resources for people, ranging from food, timber and water supplies to tourism. The economic importance of forestry as a significant industry in Aotearoa is also easily demonstrated, as it contributes billions to New Zealand’s GDP with direct employment of tens of thousands of people. Furthermore, the proportion of funds relating to forestry settlements under the Treaty of Waitangi underpins the enormity of importance attached to them by both Māori, and also the New Zealand community more generally. Yet, their importance to Māori is demonstrably even more fundamental whereby a broader set of principles other than those based on individual property rights and economic values are solidly embraced. To Māori, forests are regarded as “taonga” – a “treasure” – and as such are culturally significant assets that are congruent with values that emphasise guardianship over ownership, collective and co-operative rights over individualism, obligations towards future generations, and the need to manage resources sustainably. Thus, their significance is considered far beyond traditional economic or social measures. This paper examines the proposition that Māori in contemporary New Zealand are more likely to balance economic objectives with social, cultural and spiritual values - even though the embedding of cultural Māori values and principles (especially those relating to environmental protection) are still held to strongly. This is despite the significant commercialisation aspects of the forest industry in Aotearoa. But, in the case of Māori, this is a matter which must be taken in context of property settlements and compensation under the Treaty of Waitangi whereby the redress amount, or fixed capital sum, under any Deed of Settlement agreed to by the Crown, tells only part of the story. The more complete picture is that ownership of the land, or part thereof, in addition to accumulated rentals for Crown Licensed Forests has been recovered. In addition, various sites of cultural and spiritual significance located on public conservation land - some of which may contain forest lands – are also included as part of the final redress, thereby further distorting the full compensation amount actually being paid. Notwithstanding, forestry claim settlements and the related Waitangi Tribunal and its legislated processes, though not perfect processes, has nonetheless facilitated a useful mechanism whereby the Crown’s acknowledgement of grievances, formal apology, cultural redress, along with financial and commercial compensation, have gone some way towards recompensing actions and omissions by the Crown since 1840.