Engaging with Community - Maori perspectives of the environment

Question 1

Purpose and objective of community engagement

Answer 1

• Informing stakeholders
• Gaining their views, concerns and values
• Taking account of public inputs in decision making
• Influencing project design
• Obtaining local knowledge
• Increasing public confidence
• Improving transparency and accountability in decision- making
• Reducing conflict

Question 2

Levels of community engagement

Answer 2

• Information (one way flow from proponent to public)
• Consultation (two way exchange of information)
• Participation (interaction with the public)
• Negotiation (face to face discussion, rare)

Question 3

Key Stakeholders

Answer 3

• Iwi and hapū
• Local people affected by a proposal
• Proponent and project beneficiaries
• Government agencies
• others, e.g. donors, the private sector, academics

Question 4

Principles of community engagement

Answer 4

inclusive, open and transparent, relevant, fair, responsive, credible

Question 5

Community involvement in EIA process

Answer 5

screening, scoping, impact analysis, review, implementation and monitoring

Question 6

Factor affecting effectiveness of community engagement

Answer 6

• Remote and rural settings
• Culture/local values
• Language
• Legal systems override traditional ones
• Dominance of interest groups
• Proponent confidentiality

Question 7

Principles for minimising conflict

Answer 7

• Involve all stakeholders
• Establish communication channels
• Describe the proposal and its objectives
• Listen to the concerns and interests of affected people
• Treat people fairly and impartially
• Be empathetic and flexible
• Mitigate impacts and compensate for loss and damage
• Acknowledge concerns and provide feed-back

Question 8

Common reasons for avoiding community engagement

Answer 8

• It’s too early
• It will take too long and will cost too much
• It will stir up opposition
• We will only hear from the articulate
• We’ll raise expectations
• People won’t understand

Question 9

Principles for successful community engagement

Answer 9

• Provide the right information
• Allow sufficient time to review and respond
• Provide appropriate opportunities/means for stakeholder involvement
• Respond to issues and concerns raised
• Feed back the results of public input
• Choose venues and times of events to suit stakeholders

Question 10

Purpose of an EIA review

Answer 10

The purpose of the review process is to establish if the information in an EIA report is sufficient for decision-making.

Question 11

Objective of an EIA review

Answer 11

– review the quality of the EIA report
– take account of public comment
– determine if the information is sufficient
– identify any deficiencies to be corrected

Question 12

EIA review - aspects for consideration

Answer 12

• Information is correct and technically sound
• Account taken of public comments
• Complete and satisfactory statement of key findings
• Information is clear and understandable
• Information is sufficient for decision-making

Question 13

EIA review - steps for good practise

Answer 13

• Set the scale of the review
• Select reviewer(s)
• Use public input
• Identify review criteria
• Carry out the review
• Determine remedial options

Question 14

Steps to carrying out a review

Answer 14

1- identify the deficiencies
2- focus on critical short comings
3- recommend remedial measures

Question 15

EIA review methods

Answer 15

General checklists, Project specific checklists, Review packages, Expert and accredited reviewers, Public hearings

Question 16

What are Maori deities (Nga Atua Maori)

Answer 16

• Aspects of the natural environment are linked to particular atua
• Anything affecting the land itself is thought to affect Papa
• The natural environment is living
• Kaitiakitanga – responsibility to care for environment, respecting the associated atua, reciprocity

Question 17

What Maori dietie is important regarding civil and why

Answer 17

Rūaumoko: Earthquakes, geothermal resources

Question 18

Matauranga Maori

Answer 18

“the knowledge, comprehension or understanding of everything visible and invisible existing in the universe”

• traditionally orally transmitted, embedded within everyday activities

Mātauranga Māori is the pursuit and application of
knowledge and understanding of te Taiao, following a
systematic methodology based on:
– Evidence
– Observations
– Culture, values and world views

Pūrākau and maramataka can be both accurate and
precise, as they incorporate critically verified
knowledge, continually tested and updated through
time.

Question 19

Purākau

Answer 19

Pūrākau are a traditional form of Māori narrative, containing philosophical thought, epistemological constructs, cultural codes and world views.

Pūrākau are an integral part of mātauranga Māori and were deliberate constructs employed to encapsulate and condense into easily understood forms Māori views of the world, of ultimate reality and the relationship between the ātua (deities), the universe and humans

Question 20

Why is whakapapa important

Answer 20

• it provides identity and ‘map’ that links all living things to another
• In regards to people specifically, whakapapa is
  important as it allows people to remember and
  identify how they are related and connected with other people, the land and ultimately the atua

Question 21

What sections of the resource management act are closely relevant in terms of Maori culture

Answer 21

Section 6e, section 7, Treaty of waitangi section 8