User:Hamish
From CollabLandWiki
Hamish Putt
Victoria University of Wellington
Contents
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Position – Statement of design intent:
The intent for this project is to enhance the cultural connection to the land as well as providing an ecologically diverse and sustainable environment that has the potential to provide education and generate income through ecotourism.
One of the outcomes from undertaking a project like this is that the ecologically restored site may act as a precedent for other areas along the river. It would be slightly naive to expect other land owners, i.e. Farmers and horticulturalists, to develop their land to a point that it would bring no economic return, however it may be a way to show how river banks/edges would best be addressed and also how to control or minimise the effects of runoff.
Preliminary analysis of site issues:
Ngati kahu, Wairoa River - link to group site analysis page.
Some additional site issues:
- Population increase
- Increased sub-division
- Compacted communities
- Runoff of nutrients from agricultural land
- Development pressures
- Increased land value
- Cultural conflict - property boundaries
- Loss of identification of pa sites
Literature Review:
Theatre Country - Park, Geoff
Whenua - the ecology of placental connection
Geoff Park in this essay looks at the connection Maori have with the land. He discusses the meaning of 'whenua'.
"Whenua is a product of people living in Pacific ecosystems in which they understood and regarded themselves as tied to the land, water and life around them as children or a surrounding, sustaining Earth Mother - Papatuanuku for Maori."
This spiritual connection to the earth is reiterated through ancient myths and legends, but also through symbolic rituals. These rituals include the burial of afterbirth, and the planting of a kowhai tree in the soil above.
'Swamps which might doubtless easily be changed'
This essay looks at thae way that New Zealanders have, over the last 150 years, drained, uplifted, and subsequently destroyed over 90% of the country's freshwater wetlands. Park talks about European perception of wetlands and how these swamp like areas did not meet with early settlers aesthetic ideas of the picturesque. Upon settlement these wetlands would have been no good for grazing cattle, and were drained to make inhabitation of the land economically viable.
This was the case at out site on the Wairoa River. The wetland was drained to create land suitable for farming, giving the oportunity to generate an income from the land. This however has an effect on the rest of the river ecosystem.
"Swamps and Maori alike had little place in (Alfred) Newman's New Zealand. Both were seen as a threat in the early stages of British settlement..." Park p194
Nga Uruora (The groves of life) - Park, Geoff
The Riverbend
This essay explores Mokau, a small North Taranaki settlement that has a strong cultural connection to both Maori and European settlement. It looks at the different values and perceptions of the land right from colonisation, and looking at the ideas and beliefs each of these groups had towards the idea of reserves and the conservation of land. It tells the story of the land and the battle for its preservation.
There are many things that we can learn from this essay. One paragraph in particular gives an insight into how certain elements in the landscape are culturally significant to Maori. It talks about the Kahikatea tree and how it is hugely important to Maori. "Kahikatea is one of the most revered trees in the Maori landscape, not just for its timber and its fruits' attraction to birds, but as a symbol of perception." Park p137. This notion of a trees spirtitual representation of life is echoed in Park's essay : 'Whenua - the ecology of placental connection' - Theatre Country.
Whenua - Kawharu, Merata
Planning for the cultural landscape Sims, Miranda & Thompson- Fawcett, Michelle
In this essay, Sims and Thompson-Fawcett look at a changing New Zealand and how traditional Maori values on land and culture can and should be considered and incorporated into planning. They also state that "The planning system has an obligation to manage such landscapes in a way that balances the natural, human and spiritual realms." Sims/Thompson-Fawcett p258
"In New Zealand the relationship between people and the land provides Maori with a sense of cultural identity and belonging. At present the cultural landscape is under increasing pressure from development, resulting not only in the destruction of the physical landscape but also defilement of associated values." Sims/Thompson-Fawcett p253
Messy Ecosystems, Orderly Frames - Nassauer, Joan
Messy Ecosystems, Orderly Frames written by Joan Iverson Nassauer discusses the difference between a naturally functioning ecosystem and what is perceived by the general public as a naturally attractive landscape. She looks at what these perceptions are and how it affects what kinds of landscapes are appreciated by people. She also discusses how people relate this to the treatment of their own private space.
This relates to the views of early New Zealand European settlers who viewed native wetland areas as swamps with no function. This way of thinking was derived from their European ideas of the picturesque landscape and what it should look like.
Joan Iverson Nassauer’s research focuses on how landscape perception and landscape ecology can intersect. Although her research is Northern American based, and her examples look at landscapes common in the United States, there are concepts and principals that we can relate to when designing in the New Zealand landscape.
Additional Readings
- Waitangi Tribunal - Effective Exclusion? - Park,Geoff
- Whenua - Kawharu, Merata
- Nga Uruora (The groves of life) - Park, Geoff
- Theatre Country - Park, Geoff
Precedent Studies:
Marahau Wetland Project
A community project for the development of a wetland on unallocated Crown land between the Marahau River and the Sandy Bay Road, at the entrance to the Abel Tasman National Park. Project objectives include:
- To re-establish a wetland habitat for native fish and birds and to provide a diversity of breeding sites and feeding areas.
- To re-establish, as far as possible, the original plant cover of the area.
- To provide a public walkway between the Sandy Bay Marahau Road and the Marahau River so that wetland birds can be viewed in their natural habitat without disturbance.
The project began in 1996 with local initiative, money and labour. A piece of Crown land by the Marahau Rd was an unappealing, neglected section covered in thick gorse two metres high. Now, thanks to the hard work and cooperation of the Marahau community, it's an attractive wetland reserve featuring a wide variety of native fauna and flora. Local orchardist Will Simes has developed a plan in 1995 to transform the 4.7ha section of unallocated Crown Land and is credited with contributing much of the hard work and vision. NZ has lost 90% of its wetlands; because of the development, only 2 percent of Tasman District's original wetlands remained.
Project River Recovery
The distinctive braided rivers of the South Island, with their wide shingle beds, numerous snaking water channels and highly variable flows, provide a unique habitat for several of New Zealand's endangered wildlife species. They are a defining feature of the eastern side of Ka tiritiri o te moana, the Southen Alps.
Loss of habitat Wetland habitats are threatened by weed invasion and introduced predators that eat native birds, lizards and insects. Recreational users can also drive on bird's nests and keep birds off their eggs and chicks.
The goal of the project is to maintain and restore braided river and wetland habitat for the indigenous wildlife communities of the Upper Waitaki River Catchment, stabilising or increasing the numbers of those species currently under threat.
Management approaches Construction of wetlands, intensive weed control, and research and monitoring programmes are all part of Project River Recovery. Around 100 hectares of new wetlands have been created and water levels controlled by weirs to maximise bird-feeding habitat during the breeding season. Over 33,000 ha of riverbed have been maintained or restored for feeding and nesting habitat by controlling exotic weeds.
Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project - Newcastle, New South Wales
The Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project is restoring more than thirteen hundred hectares of degraded fisheries and other wildlife habitat in three locations within the estuary. The concept of a City Farm, as an integral component of the wetland project, was first proposed in 1992 to acknowledge the history of agriculture in the estuary.
From early 1994, the focus of the City Farm project has been to adopt permaculture principles to design an integrated farm plan that would enable the creation of a land system trialing and demonstrating agricultural techniques that will preserve the integrity of wetland ecosystem while encouraging alternative and sustainable agricultural production.
To this end Kooragang City Farm will implement the following strategies, as part of a whole farm planning approach to the development of the land, which will facilitate the integration of the farm into the surrounding ecosystem:
- Areas of seasonal freshwater swales will be fenced in wide corridors and supplemented with appropriate natural vegetation to assist in the creation of a network of wildlife corridors. These corridors will link vegetation communities external to the farm;
- The northern boundary consists of mangrove and salt marsh communities along the bank of the north arm of the Hunter River. This area will also be fenced and a band of ground covers and sedge like grasses planted to facilitate the reduction of nutrient and sediment runoff from the farm land;
- Where required all wind breaks will be constructed with sufficient width and diversity of indigenous plant species that they will also function as wildlife corridors;
- Aquaculture demonstration sites will be established focusing on the production of fingerling and nursery stock of species indigenous to the estuary for release back into the estuary;
- Artificial wetlands will be created to enhance habitat options for various native species;
- Secluded areas will be developed as sanctuaries providing habitat and roosting sites for birds;
An education program is under development to provide opportunities for students to experience and investigate estuarine ecosystems and sustainable land use, and encourage their appreciation of the dynamics of these systems.
The focus of the research is to provide direction to the adaptive management program, determining particularly how to plan and implement habitat rehabilitation that increases the use by birds, fish and other aquatic fauna. In addition it will provide base line data for vegetation management of the wind break/wild life corridors, pastures, orchards and woodlots once trials of organic, bio-dynamic and permaculture practices are commenced.
Namha Ecotourism Project -Bangkok
The UNESCO-LNTA Nam Ha Ecotourism Project is a community-based ecotourism initiative implemented by the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) in and around Lao PDR’s Nam Ha National Protected Area. The UNESCO Office of the Regional Advisor for Culture in Asia and the Pacific provides technical assistance and monitoring to this award-winning project, with the generous financial support of the Government of New Zealand. In collaboration with national partners such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Information and Culture and the Science, Technology and Environment Agency - in addition to a number of international organizations - the project is encouraging cooperation between the public and private sector to implement a community-based ecotourism development approach that places local communities at the center of the tourism development and management process.
Another main focus of the project is to assist the Laotian authorities establish mechanisms that ensure tourism makes measurable contributions to the conservation and protection of the country's outstanding natural and cultural heritage in an economically viable framework.
Hutt River Environmental Strategy
An environmental strategy has been jointly developed by the Upper Hutt City Council, the Hutt City Council, the Regional Council and the iwi for the Hutt River The environmental strategy's vision for the river and its corridor is to develop a tranquil environment, where people can go to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and enjoy the natural character of the river. The strategy contains principles, guidelines, concept plans and sketches illustrating the proposals for each river.
Schedule of Program:
Week 1: July 10 - 15 - Research, Develop position
Week 2: July 17 - 21 -Stage 1 submission
Week 3: July 24 - 28 - Presentation of broad scale agendas - Fieldtrip to Wairoa River (Wed 26th- Sun 30th)
Week 4: July 31 - Aug 4 - Seminar presenting stage 2
Week 5: Aug 7 - 11 - Stage 2 submission - Presentation Stage 1
Week 6: Aug 14 - 18 - Masterplan, development
Week 7: Aug 21 - 25 - Second site visit if needed
Week 8: Aug 28 - Sept 1 - Developed design
Week 9: Sept 4 - 8 - Focus area - Work toward stage 3 submission
Week 10: Sept 11 - 15 -Stage 3 Submission
Week 11: Sept 18 - 22 - Planning for construction detailing
Week 12: Sept 25 - 29 - Finish construction detailing
Week 13: Oct 2 - 5 - Bind work/report
Week 14: Oct 9 - 13 -Stage 4 Submission
Week 15: Oct 16 - 20
Week 16: Oct 23 - 27 - Stage 5 sbmission - Presentation stage 2
List of potential contacts and mentors:
Daniel and members of Ngati Kahu
- Te Pio Kawe
- Boffa Miskell cultural advisor (based in Tauranga) - Contact:tepio.kawe@boffamiskell.co.nz
- Cheryl Robilliard
- Parks and Open Spaces Ltd - Contact: cheryl@pos-mgmt.co.nz
- Clive Anstey
- Corydon Consultants Ltd - Contact: (04) 939 2973, c.anstey@paradise.net.nz
- Dr Stephen Hartley
- Senior Lecturer VUW - Biology, Ecology - Email: stephen.hartley@vuw.ac.nz
