Maori perspectives on water allocation

Synexe has recently undertaken a New Zealand wide study of Maori perspectives on water allocation.

Although the long held connection that Maori have with freshwater resources and their role as kaitiaki in managing them has been formally recognised in New Zealand legislation and policy, there remains a gap between these initiatives and the realisation of Maori values in water planning processes. As pressure on water resources increases, the New Zealand government is preparing to revise the current system for water allocation to make it more efficient and effective for meeting the needs of all those with interests in water.

It is essential that Maori values are understood and accounted for when decisions are made regarding water allocations within these systems. In this context, then, increasing Maori involvement in freshwater management, including water allocation processes, has become a key component of the government’s programme to improve water allocation decisions. As part of this programme, the Ministry for the Environment commissioned a report from Synexe, in partnership with Nesus & Associates, which would identify Maori perspectives on water allocation.