BBHTC wellbeing compass aids in Bill submission

“Mauri ora – wellbeing – created by the built environment matters, and has been ignored for too long. The compass is a valuable tool to remind us of the different aspects of wellbeing we should be considering in building developments.”

In late November, Te Tatau o Te Arawa, which represents Te Arawa whānui, made a submission on the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Bill.

In the submission Te Tatau called for the Bill to be wellbeing and urban regeneration-led to allow for wider positive effect. Te Tatau o Te Arawa is a research partner in Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities Urban Wellbeing – Ngā Kāinga Ora programme. In making the submission on the Bill they referred to the Te Tatau Mauri Ora Housing Development Wellbeing Compass co-created with AUT’s He Puna Ora Urban Regeneration Lab as part of the BBHTC Kāinga-Ora Urban Wellbeing programme. The compass tool is used to create a holistic social, cultural, and ecological wellbeing model for wellbeing-led urban planning and development.

Manahautū of Te Tatau, Jude Pani, says they would like to see that any changes to allowances for building densification be undergirded by mātauranga Māori and mauri ora (wellbeing of tangata and taiao).

“While we are notionally in support of the Bill, we want to see it done right. To Te Arawa whānui that means making sure that higher density developments have the inclusion of urban and peri-urban papakāinga and whenua Māori.

“There are still improvements needed to better reflect hapū/iwi as Treaty Partners in some of these processes. There needs to be guaranteed Māori representation on decision-making structures enabled by the Bill. Mauri ora – wellbeing – created by the built environment matters, and has been ignored for too long. The compass is a valuable tool to remind us of the different aspects of wellbeing we should be considering in building developments. It particularly emphasizes the importance of urban green and blue spaces for good urban function and human wellbeing.”

Established in 2015 to partner the Rotorua Lakes Council, Te Tatau o Te Arawa aims to serve and represent Te Arawa whānui and to work in partnership with Rotorua Lakes Council to create and foster a high trust environment to achieve enhanced socio-economic and cultural prosperity for Te Arawa, for Māori, and for the wider community in the Rotorua district.

More information

Read more about Te Tatau o Te Arawa.

Read more about BBHTC’s Urban Wellbeing – Ngā Kāinga Ora programme.

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