This report considers possible sources of finance the Crown might consider to support Māori rangatiratanga in biodiversity protection.
Section One provides context on the role Indigenous Peoples, and Māori specifically, have in protecting biodiversity. It then sets up a framework for governance of biodiversity protection based on the possibilities for constitutional transformation set out in Matike Mai and He Puapua. These represent possibilities towards a just relationship between Māori and the Crown into the future. It is our contention that a just relationship requires equitable resourcing. Following this, we establish why resourcing rangatiratanga is crucial for both Māori and biodiversity outcomes and contrast existing resourcing capacity.
Section Two directly addresses the research question: what are the multiple streams from which Crown financial contributions might be sourced? In doing so, the report evaluates several options for resourcing rangatiratanga across a spectrum from existing and incremental, to progressive opportunities. Existing and incremental streams include grants, reparations, Treaty-led procurement, market-based instruments and debt mechanisms. Progressive streams include revenue sharing, relief, or direct collection by Māori of levies, rates and taxes. For each of these streams we give an overview and evaluation based on existing research, and illustrate possibilities through select case studies. The report then offers conclusions, opportunities for future research and limitations. Future research will consider these options in more depth, as well as evaluating additional options out of the scope of this report.
The broad thrust of this report is that for Māori to exercise rangatiratanga towards better biodiversity outcomes, this rangatiratanga must be resourced. While there are existing means for resourcing, these are at the whims of the market and/or the Crown. For these to move towards equity or justice, an economic base for rangatiratanga is required. The Crown is able to resource its governance through taxation, rates, levies and other means, because of its assumed sovereignty. This assumed sovereignty has been challenged by Māori, creating opportunities for exploring resourcing rangatiratanga into the future. Whether it is in pursuit of better biodiversity outcomes, or in pursuit of justice according to the articles of Te Tiriti – rangatiratanga in article 2 and equity in article 3 – all signs point to an urgent need to consider options for resourcing rangatiratanga. This report begins to address that need to contribute to an ongoing conversation at the intersection of conservation and constitutional transformation.