What are Iwi Management Plans?
An Iwi Management Plan is any planning document recognised by an Iwi Authority (the authority that represents an iwi and that is recognised by that iwi as having authority to do so).
Iwi Management Plans may be formal planning documents similar to Council policy documents, or they may be a statement of iwi policies in a less formal and detailed memo or report. Plans maybe be developed by iwi, hapū or whānau and provide a statement on the position of the tāngata whenua on a range of issues so that these can be heard and considered by Councils and other stakeholders.
In some instances, iwi management plans may be written in a holistic manner and may go more broadly than Resource Management Act requirements and include social, economic and health issues. They could also be a statement on the iwi interests in relation to one resource such as fresh water or a particular site.
Iwi environmental management plans provide a vision of how the management and protection of natural and physical resource can be achieved based on cultural and spiritual values of tāngata whenua. (Ministry for the Environment, Te Raranga A Mahi 2000)
Iwi Management Plans provide a framework and guideline to build resource management strategies for the sustainable development of natural and physical resources. They are not a substitute for consultation and partnership.
Statutory recognition
There are a range of sections within the Resource Management Act (RMA) that provide for Māori interests. In relation to iwi management plans, Regional Councils an territorial authorities are required to “Take into account any relevant planning document recognised by an iwi authority” under sections 61(2A)(a), 66(2A)(a) and 74(2A)(a) of the RMA (relevant to preparing or changing a Regional Policy Statement, Regional Plan or a District Plan).
Benefits of plans
Iwi management plans are useful tools for understanding the concerns of iwi that may relate to Resource Management Act and Council planning. Those groups who benefit from Iwi Management Plans include:
- tāngata whenua, by providing a clear strategy and direction; and
- territorial local authorities, resource consent consultants and applicants in assisting them to understand background issues prior to carrying out iwi consultation.
Specific benefits include:
- allowing tāngata whenua to be proactive to consent applications or environmental problems that affect their area;
- allowing territorial local authorities, applicants and consultants to be proactive in determining what might potentially affect tāngata whenua;
- setting out Iwi kaupapa on environmental matters, allowing some consistency and education;
- often setting out how whānau, hapū and iwi wish to participate in environmental matters and the level of relationship desired with the Council; and
- Stating expectations about how local authority agencies should exercise functions and responsibilities under the Resource Management Act 1991.
Help is available
As Iwi Management Plans are an asset to tāngata whenua and councils alike, we are happy to consider funding applications from iwi/hapū groups wishing to develop a Plan.
To discuss your proposal or seek advice, contact Rachel Ropiha, Iwi Liaison Officer at the Northland Regional Council. Phone 0800 002 004 or email mailroom@nrc.govt.nz