Water management and the Treaty of Waitangi : a case study of the Opihi River

Abstract

This study considers how Maori cultural and spiritual values might be incorporated into water management procedures, and the implications of the Treaty of Waitangi for this process. The approach taken is to examine the Treaty, and then to focus on a case study of the Opihi River. It was found that in the past, water management has been characterised by a lack of recognition of both the Treaty and the values of the takata whenua. Recent changes in resource management rules have resulted in the initiation of local consultation processes. While these changes are positive, they provide the takata whenua with no assurance that their values will be incorporated into water management regimes, and do not meet the requirements of the Treaty. A partnership framework is suggested as means of enabling the takata whenua to determine themselves, how their values are to be represented in management outcomes.