RCE Waikato - 2022

Location

New Zealand
See map: Google Maps
NZ
An Epistemological Bridge: Bringing upstream local knowledge downstream to policy
Basic Information
Title of project : 
An Epistemological Bridge: Bringing upstream local knowledge downstream to policy
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Waikato
Contributing organization(s) : 
Response Trust
NZ Māori Council, Te Kaunihera Māori
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Betsan Martin
Organizational Affiliation: 
RCE Waikato
E-mail: 
betsan@response.org.nz
Format of project: 
Power Point
Language of project: 
English and Māori
Date of submission:
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Additional resources: 
Submission to natural and Built Environment legislation
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Environmental and Resource Legislation
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
New Zealand
Address of focal point institution for project: 
PO Box 12297
Wellington
New Zealand
Ecosystem(s):
Fresh water, Urban/Peri-urban
Integrating ecosystem health with development
Target Audience:
Community
Policy decision-makers
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
New Zealand is developing new resource legislation to strengthen environmental standards while enabling development. There is always tension between protecting and enhancing environmental health and allowing for development. Development includes intensive house building in response to a housing crisis. Māori national organisations and community leaders bring an integrated approach and strong advocacy for a priority on environmental standards.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The challenge of integrating environmental wellbeing with development. Historically development, including for dairy and agricultural production has taken precedence over environmental standards. This has seen extreme degradation of rivers and waterways.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
December, 2020
Rationale: 
Environmental advocates, Māori community organisations, NZ Māori Council are involved in a two-way process of bringing local and cultural knowledge, and matters of governance requirements for Māori, to legislators and policy-makers. They are also involved in an educative process with Māori communities, to enable engagement in the legislative development.
Objectives: 
To ensure Māori interests are included in resource legislation
To provide for Māori in governance of resources
To facilitate Māori communities to be informed of resource legislation and policy issues.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
Activities include community consultations.
Preparing information materials to support engagement
Holding education meetings, in communities and online to inform about legislation. Work with Maori community leaders to prepare written submissions, and to present submissions to Parliament.
Size of academic audience: 
150 - academics, national organisation and community leaders,
Results: 
Involvement of Māori tribal communities in development of the resource legislation thought Aotearoa.
Preparation of 85 submissions
Further consultations on implementation of the Water framework
6 in person community meetings, 10 zoom meetings. Community members prepared 85 submissions. Policy outcomes still in process.
Lessons learned: 
A major challenge is limited resourcing for local community and Māori community-level engagement
There are ongoing needs for capability development - with long term education investment needs throughout the system
Key messages: 
Local wisdom, traditional knowledge in resource legislation
Integrating ecological health with development
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
Linked to community education
Funding: 
Ministry for Environment contribution to consultations.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Community meeting 2.png (649.16 KB) Community Meeting on Resource legislation at Marae, Rotorua Betsan Martin
Image icon NBA Zoom.jpg (1.75 MB) Online meeting for Resource legislation Betsan Martin
Image icon heretaunga.png (283.16 KB) Communicating policy with community Betsan Martin
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Direct
Theme
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct