Indigenous sustainability indicators for Maori farming and fishing enterprises: A theoretical framework

Abstract

In developing the NZ Sustainability Dashboard, it is necessary to take into account the specific Maori enterprises operating in the biological industries. Consequently, there is an impetus within the programme to develop a dashboard that is culturally matched to the circumstances of Maori or, in other words, a dashboard that is useful and functional to Maori enterprise owners. In order to establish a dashboard that can determine the sustainability ‘status’ of a particular enterprise, it is necessary to identify a set of indicators from which the sustainability of an enterprise can be assessed. The purpose of this report is to provide a theoretical and practical foundation from which a preliminary set of sustainability indicators may be developed. This report argues that to establish a set of Indigenous sustainability indicators for Māori enterprise, it is crucial to understand what Maori want to sustain. To understand this, it is necessary to develop some insight into the Indigenous worldview and, in particular, the unique view of Maori. The first section of this report reveals that the Māori worldview encourages the building of mauri (life and well-being sustaining capacity) within environment and society. This worldview puts premium on relational values. The report then demonstrates how various Māori scholars focusing in the field of development have sought to isolate and define processes and mechanisms for achieving Māori-defined development outcomes within society, as well as in hapū, iwi, and communities. Following this theoretical discussion, the report focuses on case studies that illustrate the ‘key success factors’ that have been identified in ensuring the commercial success of Māori enterprises in the primary industries. The purpose is to ensure that key attributes considered essential, or necessary, to the successful functioning of Māori enterprises are identified. The report then moves on to provide an outline of the sustainability strategies of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, including its subsidiary companies, as a means of identifying key sustainability principles and values that this iwi seeks to adhere to in its enterprise initiatives. Through this discussion, it is determined that a way to approach sustainability from a Maori perspective is through relational values. It is argued that relational values are used to shape and guide practices designed to maintain and enhance the mauri (the life sustaining capacity) of environment and society. It is also shown that a number of the key practices for fulfilling relational values have been identified through various studies and can provide a basis for indicators that can determine the sustainability of a Maori enterprise or institution. However, measuring the outcomes of practices on mauri is also important for ensuring that practices are actually fulfilling relational values. The report ends by providing examples of how a values-based sustainability dashboard might look for Maori enterprises and institutions.