“I tried to keep quiet but my ancestors wouldn’t let me": Rakatahi Māori and local government planning and decision-making in Aotearoa : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning at Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University

Abstract

The call from Māori for greater autonomy in planning and decision-making has become increasingly evident at a national level, calling out the Government for their role in inequality and Māori marginalisation (Maipi-Clarke, 2023). Rakatahi Māori (Māori Youth) make up a large portion of this group, equating to 46.5% of all Māori in Aotearoa (Te Whata, 2023). Through their lived experiences, this research investigates the role of Rakatahi Māori in Local Government planning and decision-making in Aotearoa, focusing on Waitaha. Specifically, this research determines the pathways for their participation in Local Government, the extent to which Local Government institutions give effect to the opinions and values of Rakatahi Māori, and the perceived barriers and limitations to Rakatahi Māori participation in planning and decision-making. The research is conceptualised through te Rakaia Awa, where each section follows the flow of the Awa as it travels across Kā Pākihi Whakatekateka a Waitaha, ki uta ki tai. Conversational interviews were informed by te Tapatoru, a qualitative model of whanaukataka to support Rakatahi Māori wellbeing within policy and practice. The research considers the lived experience of five Rakatahi Mana Whenua and two Rakatahi Mātāwaka. Whilst the findings from these kōrero expressed varying levels of discontent with their experience in Local Government, a core theme emerged recognising that Rakatahi Māori hold aspirations for what these spaces could be. Weaving together the findings, in the context of the literature, the research presents three key insights. The first insight is flexible approaches are required to support Rakatahi Māori, recognising the role of whānau and whanaukataka. The second insight moves beyond a structural shift and raises the need for improved cultural safety. It recognises that this is an iterative process centring the focus onto the experience of the Rakatahi. The final insight is the recognition of the expectations set upon Rakatahi Mana Whenua verses Rakatahi Mātāwaka and considers the challenge of being asked to navigate conflicting responsibilities. The insights indicate that Youth representative spaces are not functioning as they could. They signal a tension between the Local Government institutional structure and the realisation of the aspirations of Rakatahi Māori. Therefore, this research suggests that the aspirations of Rakatahi Māori provide a guide to reconceptualising what the future of Rakatahi Māori representative spaces could look like. The research recognises that Rakatahi Māori representation may need to vary away from the expectations of the contemporary adult context and asks, who will take responsibility for ensuring that the aspirations of Rakatahi Māori are heard and upheld?