POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH MANA WHENUA

Wynyard Edge Alliance (WEA) has partnered with mana whenua to construct the infrastructure for the America’s Cup in 2021.

There are 19 iwi and hapū in Tāmaki Makaurau who possess mana whenua. Panuku have invited these mana whenua to establish a form to prepare the America’s Cup Kaitiaki Engagement Plan (ACKEP). The purpose of the ACKEP is to assist mana whenua in expressing their tikanga, fulfil their role as kaitiaki, and establish an engagement framework through the project.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi underpins the relationship between mana whenua and the Crown, and as the Crown and Auckland Council are funding the project, the principles of partnership, reciprocity, active protection, and equity must be honoured (amongst others).

Panuku and WEA acknowledge Te Waitematā is of extremely high spiritual, ancestral, cultural, customary, and historical importance to mana whenua.

Mana whenua, as kaitiaki, see the project as an opportunity to create positive and better than expected outcomes – rather than the minimum requirements. Mana whenua have advocated for outcomes that, where possible, are above and beyond the minimum legal requirements.

WEA places a high emphasis on personal contact and attempts to engage with mana whenua kanohi ki te kanohi; this happens at monthly hui, workshops, and regular site visits.

Mana whenua have identified they are particularly concerned about activities that have the potential to affect cultural values and interests. For example:

  • Managing water quality

  • Managing underwater noise as to protect marine animals

  • Protecting the waters of the area from biosecurity risks

  • Providing cultural markers within the infrastructure that recognise the historical associations of mana whenua with the whenua and moana.

  • Enabling the use of infrastructure for cultural activities.

Mana whenua have been involved in the preparation and implementation in a range of management plans. The management plans describe the procedures WEA will follow throughout construction (e.g., groundwater monitoring, noise and vibration, biosecurity). Mana whenua have also provided cultural statements for each of the management plans and all their input have been appended to each plan.

Finally, WEA looks to mana whenua as kaitiaki to provide advice on how to remain culturally safe. Mana whenua performed a whakawātea before the commencement of work, delivered cultural induction training for staff, and continues to guide WEA as to the proper procedures.

Michael Goudie