Wai 262 – Briefing on natural resource governance and policy recommendations

Ko Aotearoa Tēnei: A report into claims concerning New Zealand law & policy affecting Māori culture and identity, Volume 1 & 2.

Ko Aotearoa Tenei (2011) commonly referred to as WAI 262 is the report on indigenous flora and fauna, and cultural and intellectual property by the Waitangi Tribunal in 1991 and although the claim deals with issues facing many Māori across Aotearoa, there was a specific focus on the claims of Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Ngāti Koata.

The report discusses and makes recommendations on how to protect and support artistic and taonga works and ultimately natural resources. “Mātauranga rongoā cannot be supported if there are no rongoā rākau left, or at least none that tohunga rongoā can access.” (TribunaI 2011:657). This is a large and complex topic and took more than 20 years to be completed. The findings and recommendations are still being considered by the Crown.

While we acknowledge the connection between issues such as intellectual property of waiata and the health of te reo Māori to the health and management of the natural environment, in this briefing of WAI 262 we have chosen to outline recommendations that have specific relevance to the governance and policy mechanisms of natural resources and the protection of biodiversity in Aotearoa as this aligns with our research with the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge.