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Adaptive Governance and Policy

Tranche 2: Strategic Objective 7

This investment tackles the ways in which governance and policy need to change to better protect te taiao (the environment).

At the moment, there are many core issues with regional and national governance and policies that fail to protect, and sometimes directly endanger, the wellbeing of our biodiversity and the integrity of our biosecurity system.

The people closest to nature currently find it difficult to get their knowledge and values recognised. They are often not included or resourced to participate in strategic, local or national decisions that would make a difference to biological heritage. This is particularly the case for mana whenua who, as kaitiaki, are often involved with bioheritage protection and advocacy for the environment.

The Adaptive Governance & Policy team aims to ‘break the mould’ and build new systems, policies and capability that will provide much greater protection to our bioheritage. This includes embracing Treaty relationships with Māori and investigating the many opportunities for the environment that can arise when government engages in co-design of policy and co-governance of natural resources. The team will study what does and doesn’t work in Aotearoa when it comes to redistributing authority, decision-making abilities and responsibility.

Co-Leads:

  • Maria Bargh, Te Arawa (Ngāti Kea/Ngāti Tuarā), Ngāti Awa, Victoria University of Wellington

  • Carwyn Jones, Ngāti Kahungunu Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Victoria University of Wellington

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Additional Info

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Last Updated August 13, 2024, 10:04 (NZST)
Created March 30, 2024, 10:42 (NZDT)