Reckoning with "urbanism": Why Aotearoa needs a Māori cultural landscape lexicon

This session calls for the fundamental reconfiguration of cultural landscapes, in response to the problematic importation of Western urban design approaches and terminology. The use of imported language, often without consideration for the Indigenous peoples of a place, can perpetuate colonial values and mindsets. Indigenous, and particularly Māori, conceptions of the natural and built environments need to be more than the ‘browning up’ of Western urban design principles, and more than an afterthought to settler-colonial approaches to urban design. The arrival of New Urbanism in Aotearoa heralded a new wave of colonialism, and one which largely disregarded Māori interests. Urban design became a site for assimilationist Pākehā practices and policies. Hapū and iwi, by and large, have been and continue to be largely non-participants in ‘urban design’ conversations and up until now, Māori practitioners have only been chipping away at the edges. In 2006, the Te Aranga Māori Cultural Landscape Strategy first articulated Māori design interests and aspirations. With Te Aranga as a starting point, we are calling for a cultural landscape lexicon based on mātauranga Māori, to unlock a new conversation which critically involves mana whenua as central to any cultural landscape discussion. Following on from the successful and very intentional reclamation of the reo in kaupapa Māori initiatives in health, education, housing, justice, and social services since the 1980s, we argue that this conversation and reframing of ‘urban design’ is long overdue. The session will begin with 3 short presentations, highlighting practical experiences and a fundamental shift in the ways that ‘urban design’ is taught and practiced, starting with a Māori cultural landscapes lexicon. Following these presentations, there will be an interactive, facilitated kōrero amongst the panelists and the audience. Here, we will explore these issues and the call to contribute to a national discussion on the development of a Māori lexicon for ‘urbanism’ and ‘urban design approaches’ that honour and acknowledge the unique cultural and historic perspectives of tangata whenua.