Matarau: Empowering Māori Landowners in Land Use Decisions

How can the research be used? Ka pēhea e whai take ai te rangahau?

• Currently, Māori landowners rely on feasibility reports prepared by consultants, with limited opportunities to assess the extent to which short-listed options meet their broader aspirations. By making the underlying data and information accessible online, Māori landowners will be able to have more informed kōrero with consultants and will be empowered to better understand the full range of options that are likely to be viable for their whenua. The specialist skills of consultants can then be engaged for in-depth business cases, rather than general feasibility studies.
• This project will produce regional-scale data packages and fact sheets for multiple land-use options. These can be used to support conversations about land-use choices that are aligned with whānau aspirations and the biophysical character of the whenua, and that consider pressures on wai and future suitability to our changing climate.
• The kaupapa will be focused on communicating information in a way that is suitable and user-friendly for Māori landowners. A range of guidance resources will be developed that support the application of the information.
• This project is closely connected to the Land Use Opportunities: Whitiwhiti Ora programme, which will disseminate findings to the wider stakeholders.