Enhancing and ensuring equitable futures

Hana Whiting (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) is a final-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture tauira at Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki | Lincoln University. Here she reflects on the collective action needed from within the landscape architecture profession to ensure the reclamation and integration of te ao Māori into the natural and built environments of Aotearoa.

The under-representation of Māori across professions responsible for shaping the natural and built environments of Aotearoa is ubiquitous, and landscape architecture is no exception. To assist in future deliveries of authentically diversified environments that adequately prioritise Tangata Whenua outcomes, critical evaluation of the defining social equity components inherent within landscape architecture tertiary and profession is required.

Te Tau-a-Nuku members at Tuia Pito Ora NZILA President's Evening. Te Tau-a-Nuku tauira members from left - Hana Whiting (in black skirt), Stevie Bracken and Zak Kelland.

Having Māori whānau has made me hyperaware of the persistent disparities and systemic injustices that Māori regularly face, and my working project on the landscapes within prisons has only brought up more questions than answers. 

What is known is the rampant dispossession of whenua has had protracted and extensive ramifications for Māori. This is evidenced by statistics highlighting continual Māori over-representation in negative social and economic spheres, which have been frequently and openly referenced for some time. While many questions will remain unanswered, I ask what role landscape architecture has in supporting Māori outcomes as Aotearoa progresses towards an equitable future, reflective of te Tiriti. 

The dual meaning of the kupu whenua (land/placenta) in itself is a significant indicator of the intrinsic connection between Māori to Papatūānuku, and reflects the relationship as one that transcends the physical realm. As such, landscape architects have the unique opportunity and responsibility to lead the movement of decolonising our environments through design, to support the healing of Māori through appropriate design implementation. 

Increasing recognition and provisions of te ao Māori within environmental law and policies highlights the need for landscape architects to be adhering to such fundamental principles in order to interpret them for application within the fabrics of environments. We can foster connections to place, sense of belonging and identity in this way, as well as developing an egalitarian narrative that will exist into the future. 

As the recent 2021 Te Tau-a-Nuku Māori Landscape Architecture Network wānanga reinforced, there’s a notion of responsibility design professionals have to ensure the regenerative physical presence of te ao Māori into the natural and built environments. However, this ambition will remain an unobtainable feat if it is up to primarily the identifying Māori to be the party advocating for, and delivering programmes increasing indigenous exposure and engagement. Compounding pressures on Mana Whenua and associated organisations sees the need of all landscape professions to have an understanding of the grounding principles of te ao Māori. 

2021 Te Tau-a-Nuku wānanga at Whareroa Mare in Tauranga Moana.

This is obviously not just an issue only present in landscape architecture, it’s deeply engrained across professions and therefore, requires an integrated collective effort. A grand total of two Māori Studies lecturers across all degrees at Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University and limited provisions within current curricula for building cultural competency emphasises the need for effective external support. The right practitioners are out there, but the right awhi provided for them is another thing. 

The recent call for Te Rangitāmiro Radical Reorientation to consider concerns impacting the present landscapes of Aotearoa, combined with increasing recognition to cultural competency, sees the need of indigenising landscape architecture education and practice. 

Many societal disparities still persist in both, making it difficult to facilitate the delivery of diversified environments that appropriately reflect the indigenous narratives of Aotearoa. 

While incremental steps and ‘soft actions’ will certainly assist in immediate outcomes as with anything, true change lies outside the boundaries of the comfort zone. 

Despite current societal shortcomings and unsolved grievances, we are nevertheless operating in tremendously exciting and opportunity-laden times. When I contemplate my personal account as a tauira in Ōtautahi, I recognise that significant systemic change of our institutions is required, but I am optimistic if perhaps somewhat naïve, about the direction of landscape architecture if kōrero like this continue. 

I commend those leading Ngā Aho and Te Tau-a-Nuku, as I anticipate the commanding presence already held by Māori in the profession will only gain momentum advancing further towards 2040 and a future responsive to te Tiriti. Ngā mihi nui e te Tau-a-Nuku whānau for the ongoing tautoko and role in facilitating Māori voices within the profession. Mauri Ora!

**Te Tau-a-Nuku are a collective of Māori Landscape Architects/Designers who come together to achieve Māori values and outcomes within the environments we live. The collective has 50 Māori landscape architects - mātanga (practitioners) as well as tauira (students). The wānanga Whiting refers to was held at Whareroa Marae in Tauranga Moana in May, to explore how to uphold and ensure Te Ao Māori values and approaches within practice and education.