Lessons Learned

Freshwater management is high on the agenda of most iwi and hapū as they seek to restore much on the damage that has been inflicted on the country’s now fragile freshwater ecosystems. For those working on restoring Te Waihora, these are the lessons they have learned.

  • Keep a good eye on the past as you negotiate the future. Listen to your kaumātua and keep their messages in the front of your mind; and make sure you have regular meetings with your kaumātua throughout the process.
  • Stay strong to the kaupapa and build on what has been achieved so far, rather than settling for the status quo or diminishing the value of previous agreements – protect the achievements of your tīpuna.
  • Build a strong multi-hapū/rūnanga and multi-disciplined team and seek clear and mandated support from your iwi authority and/or hapū/rūnanga structures as well as external and independent professionals.
  • Identify the contemporary tools (such as resource consents, co-governance arrangements, legislation) that will assist and strengthen the kaupapa and embed your values into those tools.
  • Be clear and specific about what you want and what you don’t want by asking yourself the hard questions. Look for and provide solutions, rather than just focusing on the problems.
  • Prepare for all hui you have with both your own people and externals with simple bullet point key messages. Holding pre-hui are very useful to order and solidify your key arguments and messages.
  • Gather the right information – getting the evidence to support arguments and solutions is critical even if this means paying for it or bringing in externals. Thinking of the possible opportunities that may arise within hui, and then picking that moment and delivering the message is an art.
  • Compromise and negotiation are real skills. You will have more success however when you are clear on what you want and prepare well.
  • Finally, be brave and back yourself – your whānau, your hapū, iwi and your taonga. Show conviction in what you know – your mātauranga and tikanga and those lessons and wisdom from kaumātua and tīpuna.

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