The MCHP began in 2014. We initiated the programme and co-designed it in partnership with mana whenua.
Mana whenua exercises a key mandating and decision-making role to guide the MCHP.
We work in partnership with 19 mana whenua entities in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland to deliver the MCHP.
The purpose of the MCHP is to improve the:
The MCHP recognises that there are thousands of Māori cultural heritage sites in Tāmaki Makaurau. Many of these are under threat or degraded.
We expect the MCHP to:
We will explore partnerships with mana whenua to:
Delivery of the MCHP will also contribute to our response to our Māori Outcomes Framework – Kia Ora te Ahurea / Māori Identity and Culture.
Under the Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP) we are required to identify, evaluate and protect sites and areas of significance to mana whenua.
Mana whenua retain enduring values and associations with their heritage. Its importance extends to Auckland's identity, narrative, amenity, sense of place and association.
We are working with both statutory (such as plan changes) and non-statutory mechanisms. This includes a range of management responses to protect Māori cultural heritage.
We designed and implemented the management responses in partnership with mana whenua.
The responses include:
Māori heritage sites require assessment for the most appropriate management option. Some sites may be scheduled, or suitable for scheduling, in the AUP. Others will be managed by other methods.
Going forward we intend to establish a Māori cultural heritage status baseline. Monitoring and movement from this baseline will be captured annually.
We also intend to establish Māori cultural heritage asset conditions, particularly for scheduled sites. We will monitor these in partnership with mana whenua.
Find out more by reading the Auckland Unitary Plan Operative in part > Chapter L Schedules > Schedule 12 Sites and Places of Significance to Mana Whenua.
Māori cultural heritage is defined in this programme as 'immovable or place-based heritage of Māori origin or value'.
It includes sites (e.g. archaeology, lakes, wāhi tapu, resource areas), structures (e.g. marae), and landscapes (e.g. coastlines, valleys, resources).
Māori cultural heritage includes both natural heritage (e.g. forests) and anthropogenic heritage (e.g. archaeology). It can be tangible or intangible (e.g. artefacts and pā sites or spiritual associations and historical accounts). Mana whenua are the only party who can assign its Māori values.
We administer a legislative and policy framework that requires active involvement in the protection and management of Māori heritage.
We are responsible for recognising and protecting the relationship of Māori, and their culture and traditions with their:
Māori heritage is a matter of national significance under the Resource Management Act 1991. It has been subject to major and sustained loss and degradation.
Mana whenua values and associations with their heritage is poorly understood within the wider public. The socio-political context of conserving Māori heritage on private land can present significant opportunities and challenges.
