Local-Indigenous Autonomy and Community Streetscape Enhancement: Learnings from Māori and Te Ara Mua-Future Streets Project.

Kimiora Raerino,Adrian Field,Rau Hoskins,Alex Macmillan

doi:10.3390/ijerph18030865

Abstract

In settler countries, attention is now extending to the wellbeing benefits of recognising and promoting the Indigenous cultural identity of neighbourhoods as a contributing factor to more equitable and healthier communities. Re-indigenisation efforts to (re)implement cultural factors into urban design can be challenging and ineffective without the leadership and collaboration of local-Indigenous peoples. Undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Ara Mua — Future Street project, demonstrated that co-design has critical potential in the reclamation of Indigenous autonomy, increased local-Indigenous presence and revitalisation of cultural identity. Employing a Kaupapa Māori (Māori-centred) research approach, we focused on the workings and perspectives of mana whenua (local-Indigenous peoples) and community stakeholder engagement in Te Ara Mua. An Indigenous theoretical framework, Te Pae Mahutonga, was utilised in the data analysis to explore perspectives of Indigenous collective agency, empowerment, and wellbeing. Our research demonstrates that developing capacity amongst Indigenous communities is integral for effective engagement and that the realisation of autonomy in urban design projects has broader implications for Indigenous sovereignty, spatial justice and health equity. Significantly, we argue that future community enhancement strategies must include not only re-designing and re-imagining initiatives, but also re-indigenising.

Highlights

Nōku te whenua, o ōku tūpuna—The land is mine, inherited from my ancestors Māori whakatauki.Community streetscape enhancement demonstrates the intention of cities to redesign and enhance existing public spaces that influence peoples’ health and wellbeing
We argue that the exercise of local-Indigenous autonomy in New Zealand is a fundamental concept and embedded treaty right in the re-designing of neighbourhood physical environments for health, equity and sustainability
Equitable local-Indigenous engagement, processes and outcomes is fundamental to improved urban-Indigenous communities and reducing health and social inequities. We explore these concepts of re-indigenisation and local-Indigenous autonomy in the community retrofit project of Te Ara Mua — Future Streets (Te Ara Mua) in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Aotearoa New Zealand

Summary

Introduction

Community streetscape enhancement demonstrates the intention of cities to redesign and enhance existing public spaces that influence peoples’ health and wellbeing. Interlinked health, social and environmental challenges such as obesity, diabetes, climate change, and rising social and health inequities continue to affect individual, family and community wellbeing [1,2]. Compounding these issues are the health effects of increased car reliance and a reduction in active transport among individuals and families [3,4]. Community wellbeing can be enhanced by making public spaces (e.g., streets, walkways and parks) safer and more attractive, thereby encouraging people to walk, cycle, take public transit and socialise [5,6]

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Conclusion