Te Kōrero Kāpehu : Whenua planning for Te Whakatōhea kai (food) security

Abstract

Introduction Our project tells the story of a whenua (land) planning process for kai (food) security led by Te Whakatōhea, in partnership with Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University. The project is founded in translating Te Whakatōhea mātauranga (indigenous knowledge) and kai growing strategies developed during raupatu (land confiscation) - a period when the iwi, facing immense food security challenges, adapted to forced resettlement on the Ōpape Reserve - into contemporary whenua planning strategies to address the food-water-biodiversity nexus into the future. A Design Thinking approach was applied to prototype iwi-led whenua planning strategies, with the kōrero kāpehu (conversation compass) created as a tool to navigate diverse and complex ideas.

Objectives Effective wānanga (workshop) and engagement tools are critical to inclusive dialogue with tangata whenua in urban adaptation and land use planning. This project sought to enable a wānanga process that would engage Te Whakatōhea whānau (members) in kōrero and whenua planning, with key objectives being to: 1 - Understand traditional Te Whakatōhea approaches to kai security 2 - Develop wānanga tools to engage with the complexity of kai security and to set priorities 3 - Collectively work together to develop nature-based planning guidelines to increase kai security

Methodology A Design Thinking methodology was enlisted to support the project objectives, with the following research steps undertaken 1. Empathise - Interviews with Te Whakatōhea kaumātua (elders) provided the foundational mātauranga from which the approach for whenua planning for kai security was set 2. Define – the vision and aspirations for kai security were defined by Te Whakatōhea kaumātua, governance and whānau 3. Ideate – The Kai Security Kāpehu was developed and utilised within wānanga to bridge between ideas and planning actions addressing the food-water-biodiversity nexus 4. Prototype – Spatial strategies for short and long whenua planning were developed

Findings Findings showed that the Design Thinking methodology enabled Te Whakatōhea to engage effectively in the whenua planning process, supporting a place- and people-specific approach with clearly tangible outcomes for Te Whakatōhea. The Kai Security Kāpehu supported tangata whenua to engage with the complexity that surrounds the food-water-biodiversity nexus, enabling practical engagement across spatial and temporal scales. The tool effectively mediated the diverse goals of the rōpū, fostering rich kōrero and supporting the development of adaptive spatial strategies across multiple scales.

Significance of the work for policy and practice The kāpehu is envisioned as a flexible wānanga tool that can be adapted and applied across various priority land-based adaptation planning areas, including housing, health, land use, and infrastructure, to support planning-focussed wānanga. The Design Thinking methodology was shown to support whānau kōrero for holistic and long-term whenua planning. Applying the kāpehu within a design-based wānanga allowed members of the rōpū to discuss, challenge and apply ideas within a place-based setting. This has international significance illustrating a process of how professional and community-based groups can work together in decision-making, where local knowledge is integrated and translated into tangible outcomes.