Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

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3  Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods

3.4  Water

3.4.10 Mauri

Principal Reasons for Adopting: Within the traditional Maori world view, water is perceived as taonga. This places an obligation on tangata whenua as kaitiaki, to ensure that water resources or taonga are maintained and handed on to future generations in a healthy condition. Water is perceived by Maori as having a mauri, a spiritual quality, that is generally interpreted in English as having a life-force, life-essence or life-principle. One of the main goals of Maori traditional practices is to protect mauri, via the exercise of kaitiakitanga.

The maintenance and enhancement of mauri (with respect to water resources) is dependant on the physical and spiritual health of natural and physical resources. Contamination or degradation of water has the effect of diminishing its mauri. The diminution of mauri has a negative impact on the natural and physical resources and also impacts on the mana of tangata whenua, who have the responsibility as kaitiaki, to ensure that the mauri of their taonga is not affected.

Refer to section 2.1 for an overview of the issues regarding tangata whenua and the Treaty of Waitangi.

Ensure that decisions about the discharge of contaminants associated with the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources are made in a way that recognises and provides for the mauri of water.

1. Ensure, in conjunction with territorial authorities, and through consultation with tangata whenua, that resource use and development practices recognise and provide for the mauri of water.
   
2. Provide recognition in regional plans and resource consents, through appropriate rules, criteria, conditions, guidelines and information, of Maori interests in the potential adverse effects of the discharge of contaminants on the mauri of water.
   
3. Through regional plans, in consultation with interested parties, investigate the establishment of water quality classes for water bodies which recognise the mauri of water.
   
4. Liaise with tangata whenua of the Region to ascertain appropriate mechanisms, as part of the Regional Information Gathering Action Plan, to determine whether mauri is being affected by the effects of use, development and protection of water.
   
5. Provide information and practical guidance to resource users on the significance of the mauri of water to tangata whenua and encourage applicants to consult with the appropriate tangata whenua groups prior to submitting applications for resource consents.

Policy One seeks to ensure that decisions on resource managemnet matters recognise and provide for the mauri of water. It recognises that the mauri of water resources is dependant on the physical and spiritual health of the environment, and that contamination or degradation of water has the potential to diminish its mauri. The continued maintenance of mauri is also consistent with the maintenance of water quality in a sustainable manner.

Implementation of this policy requires clear identification of areas and situations where the mauri of water may be adversely affected. Consultation with tangata whenua, local authorities and resource users on this issue is important:

1. to ensure that local authorities and resource users are aware of the value placed by tangata whenua on the mauri of water;
   
2. to ensure that the mauri of water is recognised and provided for; and
   
3. to address the extent to which any adverse effects on the mauri of water can be avoided, remedied, or mitigated.

The establishment of appropriate rules, criteria and conditions in Method 2 will ensure that decisions permitting the treatment and disposal of contaminants will recognise and provide for the mauri of water. Method 4 encourages resource use applicants to discuss their proposals with appropriate tangata whenua groups to facilitate, wherever possible, a means to ensure their projects recognise and provide for the mauri of water.

1. The quality of water bodies maintained and enhanced.
   
2. Tangata Whenua are satisfied that their concerns in regard to the mauri of water, are being recognised and are being appropriately addressed in the Region as a whole.
   
3. The relationship of tangata whenua with water resources is better understood and iwi concerns and values are considered in the management of water bodies.

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