The true impact of human activity on waterways may be slowly dawning on Pākehā, but it’s not news for Māori.
Tame Te Rangi, who leads the environment Pou for the Auckland Council Mana Whenua Kaitiaki Forum, says Māori have always been aware of how water systems interact.
“I’d put it this way: The present landscape of Auckland is a testimony to ignorance,” he says. A more holistic view of water is reflected in the concept for freshwater management the Kaitiaki Forum has put forward for Auckland.
Emphasis on lifeforce
Whereas the national policy goal for water is ‘Te Mana o Te Wai’, in Auckland it’s rephrased as ‘Te Mauri o Te Wai’. That emphasis on mauri – or lifeforce – is there because much of the city’s water network is still too degraded to think now about mana, Te Rangi says. “We can’t even dream about talking ‘Mana o Te Wai’ in a Tāmaki context if we haven’t addressed issues of mauri – or the ability of that water to provide sustenance and life,” he says. “One precedes the other.”
The aim of restoring mauri is an overarching guide for all of Auckland’s water initiatives. It’s a mission statement that gives emotional resonance to planning documents or infrastructure projects.
Water that has mauri can sustain ecosystems. It’s drinkable and swimmable. It’s not awash with sewage overflows, dammed up by shopping trolleys or full of runoff from building sites or industry. It sustains life, and that will give it mana.
Clean, healthy water is essential to our future. As our region continues to grow and change, we need to look after this precious taonga. Visit akhaveyoursay.nz to have your say on how we should waterproof our future. Feedback is open until 19 April. Read more about the Our Water Future: Auckland's water discussion on OurAuckland. Find out more about what we're doing to ensure our water future here.
