Oranga whenua - Te whainga a Te Rau Matatau 'Confronting conversations and kaitiakitanga': Te Rau Matatau navigates environmental role

A summer internship in environmental planning proved more than an eyeopener for Parininihi ki Waitōtara Te Rau Matatau/Alumni Adelaide Campbell – it forged a whole new career path.

A year into health studies at Otago University, the former head girl of Spotswood College received an internship back home for the summer with the Taranaki Regional Council.

“It was completely different to what I was studying. I felt inspired by planning and policy and the impact I could have working to protect the environment, and I didn’t look back.”

“If you had said three years ago I would be part of the regional council’s environmental planning team I wouldn’t have believed it, but I love my job.”

Adelaide had worked alongside her father Te Poihi Campbell on planting and restoration projects in the South Taranaki bushlands – work that underscored the fundamental importance of looking after the environment, ensuring waterways are clean and preventing erosion.

“I never thought it would evolve into a career but it definitely sparked a passion and interest in this space.”

She was offered a short-term contract with the Taranaki Regional Council and now has two-and-a-half years under her belt as an environmental planning officer.

While working fulltime at the regional council, the 21-yearold began studying for a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning and is now in her second year of distance learning through Massey University.

“Studying part-time while continuing to work in environmental policy and understanding sustainable use of the environment means I get the invaluable practical experience of being a planner – a significant advantage in studying for the degree itself.”

Adelaide’s studies have been supported by a 2021 Parininihi ki Waitōtara-Te Atiawa undergraduate scholarship.

“I’m extremely grateful for the scholarship. The support from Parininihi ki Waitōtara and Te Atiawa not only provides financial relief but demonstrates their commitment to fostering rangatahi to achieve their aspirations,” Adelaide says.

“That scholarship gives me the opportunity to pick up tools, skills, a university education and a degree which I’ll be able to use to give back to our community in Taranaki and my own iwi.”

“Resource management reform is bringing quite a shift in environmental focus,” she says.

“We will need to balance how we can productively and sustainably use our resources.”

“It is essential that iwi organisations are appropriately engaged and involved in environmental work, able to practise kaitiakitanga and have rangatiratanga over decisions made for the environment.”

At the Taranaki Regional Council, she has been involved with mapping sites of significance for Māori as part of the development of a Natural Resource Plan.

“We’re now entering stage two of that project: sitting down with iwi and hapū to talk about their sites, map them accordingly and ensure they are protected from inappropriate use in the future.”

Adelaide says it’s heartening to see a shift in the way many organisations are working positively with tangata whenua in natural resource and environmental management.

“We will continue to see progress in alternative approaches to what has been dominated by western science and westernised legislation, creating more acknowledgement, understanding and appreciation of a Te Ao Māori worldview,” Adelaide says.

“People are beginning to understand how Māori see the environment and the importance of that relationship being recognised in plans and policy. We can work together for the betterment of our people and our environment.”

“I am and will continue to be a kaitiaki and advocate for the environment and the understanding of tikanga and Māori values in planning frameworks, environmental work and resource planning.”

“There is a shift, but I have had some difficult and confronting conversations. Sometimes you just need to be brave and provide approachable education.”

“Eventually cultural values and protocols will become the norm and not an add-on or an afterthought.”

Te Rau Manawaora / the PKW Trust has a vision of “supporting the educational and cultural purposes of ngā uri whakaheke o ngā iwi o Taranaki, to strengthen Taranaki whānui” and a mission of “seeding Taranaki potential – building success”.

Puna Wano-Bryant, Te Rautitikura/General Manager Shareholder Engagement, says the Trust has been realising this through a long history of awarding tertiary grants and scholarships to descendants of Taranaki Māori enrolled with a recognised institute and endorsed by a PKW shareholder.

“We are proud of the efforts of Te Rau Matatau like Adelaide who achieve to a high standard and are already contributing to the betterment of ngā iwi o Taranaki. We look forward to hearing Adelaide’s insights into wāhi tapu mapping when she presents on a panel at our inaugural Kura taiao on 23 June,” Puna said.