Te Awa Tupua – Whanganui River

Te Awa Tupua –The Whanganui River

The world’s first river to gain rights as a legal person

At the heart of Whanganui is a stunning river that winds its way through the city from the mountains to the sea, nourishing both the land and the people that call this beautiful place home. As well as boasting picturesque and untouched scenes, and offering a wide variety of activities, the Whanganui River tells an even more important story of indigenous values and kaitiakitanga that spans the length of time. Ma¯ori communities and traditional marae are peppered along the riverbanks right up to Taumarunui. Such is the importance of the Awa to local Ma¯ori that they fought for over 150 years to have its status recognised at law.

“Ko te tai runga te Awa, ko te Awa te tai raro e kukume nei taku ate.”

“The river influences my emotions like the ebb and flow of the tide.”

The Whanganui hapu¯ and iwi relationship with the Whanganui River might be best summed up by the edict of the old people: “Kaua e ko¯rero mo te Awa, me ko¯rero ki te Awa” - “Do not merely speak of the river, speak instead to the river.” That is, relate to the river and seek its guidance in all things. In March 2017 legislation was passed in Parliament establishing a unique legal status for the Whanganui River, that of Te Awa Tupua. Under this new status, the river is recognised as an indivisible and living whole, comprising the Whanganui River from the mountains to the sea, incorporating all its physical and metaphysical elements. In doing so, the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017 establishes a framework at law to support the innate values of the Whanganui River practised by Whanganui hapu¯ and iwi for centuries. These four values, called Tupua Te Kawa, will now guide all actions and decision-making to provide for the health and wellbeing of both the river and its peoples. The paradigm shift from merely speaking about the river to actively speaking to the river as a community is powered by this new status and the time-honoured values of Tupua Te Kawa.

Tupua te Kawa

The first of the four values is “Ko te awa te ma¯ta¯puna o te ora” – “The river is the source of spiritual and physical sustenance.” Hapu¯ and local communities share an emotional attachment with the river as much as a physical one. This emotional connection drives our duty of care toward the river.

The second core value is indivisibility: “E rere kau mai te awa nui mai te ka¯hui maunga ki Tangaroa” – “The great river flows from the mountains to the sea.” If we are to address the river’s needs, we must address the river as a whole.

The third value relates to the longstanding relationship that Whanganui hapu¯ and iwi have with the river. Hapu¯ and iwi are inextricably intertwined with the river. The tribal maxim “Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au” – “I am the river and the river is me” speaks of a responsibility to care for the river out of whakapapa (kinship) with the river itself; a responsibility that can neither be conferred nor removed.

The fourth value speaks of the small and large streams that flow into one another and form one river: “Nga¯ manga iti, nga¯ manga nui e honohono kau ana hei Awa Tupua.” This value recognises that all communities have an interest in ensuring the health and wellbeing of the river. It is an affirmation that each of the streams (communities) of the river remain steadfast in our collaboration to that end. Thus, a duty of responsibility and care is created across communities of the river - to actively collaborate over the health and wellbeing of the Whanganui River, Te Awa Tupua. Most importantly the collective responsibility inherent in Tupua te Kawa will bind, educate and guide successive generations to a greater and more inclusive discourse over sustainability of natural resources locally, nationally and globally.