Matatau Whenua Guidelines

The Matatau Whenua Guidelines are designed to support Whenua Māori landowners and decision-makers in integrating traditional Māori knowledge, or mātauranga, into their land-use decision-making processes.

These guidelines, developed from the key findings of the Matatau Whenua inquiry and closely aligned with the Pohewa Pae Tawhiti programme, offer a structured approach divided into three phases and nine stages.

This framework aids in gathering mātauranga to inform decisions that honor both the past and future. Central to Matatau Whenua is the whakatauki: “Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua” (we face our past as we move into the future), emphasizing the importance of incorporating historical and ancestral knowledge, such as pūrakau, kōrero tuku iho, mōteatea, whakapapa, and ngā tuhinga komiti.

These guidelines serve as a practical tool for land-use decision-making, offering key questions and protocols to ensure that the mātauranga of the land and its people are thoroughly considered at every stage.