Application of sociometric methods to collaborative coastal management

Abstract

Collaborative models for environmental management are emerging in New Zealand. At the forefront are processes for coastal and freshwater environments. It is proposed that application of sociometric methods and skilled facilitation can produce leadership from local communities, creating more enduring solutions than occur from central and regional government initiatives. This paper presents examples of how this approach has been adopted in situations at local and regional scales. Three case studies of integrated management initiatives are analysed in a sociometric framework at stages of development from pre-initiation research to completed legislation and implementation, in the context of a national legal framework. The full development of a community led programme is demonstrated using the Kaikoura integrated coastal management programme. An analysis of the Top of the South Marine Biosecurity Partnership shows how scope reduction can aid successful collaboration. Finally, the Hauraki Gulf Sea Change project is used to describe how the approach is being adapted and scaled to a more complex situation in the area of highest population density in New Zealand. These three case studies are compared and contrasted to draw out commonalities, lessons learned, and the potential for these approaches to be applied elsewhere. Systemic, sociometric and structural analyses are used to define the elements needed for consensus to emerge at the local level and to be translated into regional and national administrative systems. Collaborative processes are found to be useful for complex issues involving multiple parties with overlapping interests, making these approaches suitable for integrated coastal management.