A marae-based tikanga framework for the future

In response to the global climate crisis, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington embarked on an ambitious Living Pā building project to construct a 3,000-square-metre three-storey learning, teaching, research and engagement space as part of Te Herenga Waka Marae on its Kelburn Campus. While preparing to move into the new building, a research team investigated how the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge™ sustainability principles that underpin the Living Pā project could complement the tikanga Māori that regulate the marae community. This article shares a tikanga framework developed to bring the philosophies of te ao Māori and living buildings together, explaining the key components of the framework and providing case study examples of how it applies in practice. Ultimately, this research sought to support a marae community into more climate-adaptive and resilient practices that could mitigate climate change without compromising on tikanga to achieve he pā anamata, a marae for the future.