Te Mana o te Wai in the water services sector

The purpose of this Guide is to assist water services sector members in understanding key concepts and values underpinning the Māori world view of the environment. In particular, this Guide focuses on the meaning of Te Mana o te Wai as that term is used in the NPSFM 2020.

In relation to RMA decision making on plans, policy and resource consents this guide should be read together with a document prepared for the Making Good Decisions programme administered by the Ministry for the Environment entitled Māori Values Supplement, December 2010 (Supplement).

This Guide is divided into the following sections:

• A discussion of the meaning of Te Mana o te Wai;

• A discussion of Māori interests in freshwater;

• An overview of the key principles of the Treaty of Waitangi relevant in the context of freshwater;

• What Te Mana o te Wai means in relation to decision making around water services infrastructure.