He tangata, he tangata, he tangata: Landscape characterisation in Aotearoa-New Zealand

Abstract

This chapter examines landscape characterisation as a landscape planning and assessment tool in Aotearoa-New Zealand. It describes the bi-cultural context, with particular focus on postcolonial dynamics and their implications for landscape assessment; reviews approaches to characterisation and current practice, with examples; identifies opportunities, challenges, and theoretical and practical issues associated with characterisation; and then briefly considers the relationship between New Zealand practice and trends internationally.