An Indigenous Future: An NZ Festival panel discussion
What would our future lives look like if an indigenous worldview was intrinsic to the structures that govern the way we live? In the face of social and environmental catastrophes such as the climate crisis, housing crisis, and an ever-increasing divide between rich and poor, how might a Te Ao Māori framework provide solutions for us all?
Hosted by the NZ Festival of the Arts, Associate Professor Maria Bargh (Te Arawa (Ngāti Kea/Ngāti Tuarā), Ngāti Awa) of Te Kawa a Māui, Dr Rebecca Kiddle (Ngāti Porou and Ngāpuhi) of the Wellington School of Architecture, and architectural designer Jade Kake (Ngāti Hau/Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa, Te Whakatōhea) took part in a panel discussion on Sunday 23 February to address this topic.
‘An Indigenous Future’ brought together the three different areas of research of each panellist: Ms Kake works on and advocates for more papakainga housing projects; Dr Kiddle has co-authored a book (her co-authors include Dr Ocean Mercier and Dr Mike Ross of Te Kawa a Māui), which examines the idea of ‘decolonised cities' (her chapter focusses on how ‘colonisation sucks for everyone’); Associate Professor Bargh researches climate change and a 'tika (correct) transition' to a low carbon lifestyle/economy.
A key question was what decolonisation looks like for the speakers. For Dr Kiddle and Ms Kake, a transfer of resources from the Crown to Māori was key. Associate Professor Bargh argued that decolonisation now also needs to include adaptation to climate change; in her opinion, this presents opportunities for us to shift Aotearoa to a fairer and more just country. She proposed that the transition should happen in a 'tika' way: “A tika transition and a decolonised future is one where the process of transition to a low carbon lifestyle/economy has followed tika procedures and tikanga Māori, as well as one where the Crown has upheld their key Treaty obligations of partnership, active protection and reciprocity.”
She pointed to the Māori communities that are already providing examples of what this can look like in practice: Tuaropaki Trust (near Taupō), which has a geothermal power plant, glass houses, worm farms, and sustainable farming operations, and Tūhoe who have built the first Living Building in Aotearoa. She also commended Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington for its commitment to this inspiring 'tika transition' journey through its development of the Living Pā.