Human Uses of the West Coast Marine and Coastal Environment

4.1 Introduction

Chapters 2 and 3 have summarised the physical and biological character of the West Coast marine environment. This section summarises the different ways that people use the coastal marine environment, including information on:

These uses are each addressed in separate sections, and the chapter concludes with a summary of the current marine and coastal protection and management area measures that exist on the West Coast.

Human occupation and use of the West Coast marine environment dates back hundreds of years. Over that time, people and communities have formed close connections that affect the character and use of that environment today. Evidence of these past activities also remains today as historic and archaeological sites. All of these past connections to the West Coast marine environment are clearly important to many people both on and off the West Coast. However, historic and archaeological sites are largely outside the scope of the MPA Policy.

4.1.1 MPA Policy and Treaty Obligations
The MPA Policy and Implementation Plan acknowledges and provides for the special relationship between the Crown and Maori, including kaitiakitanga, customary use and matauranga Maori. This relationship reflects the obligations that arise from the Treaty of Waitangi and the various commitments to tangata whenua that are included in marine management legislation. Where MPAs are being considered for a particular area, tangata whenua are to be involved at an early stage.

West Coast Tai Poutini lies within the Ngai Tahu whanui takiwa (tribal area). In order to give proper effect to this relationship, iwi representation on the West Coast Marine Protection Forum has included representatives of the two Ngai Tahu Tai Poutini runanga; Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae and Te Runanga o Makaawhio. In 2004, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu were involved with an expert group of marine specialists to provide a strategic approach to progressing marine protection within the Ngai Tahu whanui takiwa.

A report1 was prepared to collate, map and assess biological information and identify key characteristics of areas required to adequately protect representative examples of the full range of natural habitats and ecosystems of the takiwa. This report assisted the West Coast Marine Protection Forum in compiling information about the physical and biological characteristics of the West Coast marine environment.

The 2004 report did not address values of cultural significance to the tangata whenua of Tai Poutini. Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu subsequently undertook to gather information within the takiwa on this topic and this work is progressing. The objective of this research is to identify and record information about the way tangata whenua, in both historic and contemporary times, have used (and value) the coastal and marine area of Tai Poutini. When completed, this information will assist tangata whenua to consider how these values could be protected within the framework of the MPA process.

This West Coast Marine and Coastal Environment Report does not address Maori Customary Fishing. The Kaimoana Customary Fishing Regulations are a fisheries management tool administered by the Ministry of Fisheries to cover non-commercial customary fishing. They do not remove the right of tangata whenua to catch their recreational limits under the Amateur Fishing Regulations; nor do they provide for commercial fishing.

The Kaimoana Regulations enable the establishment of mataitai reserves. These reserves provide a tool for tangata whenua to manage all non-commercial fishing in some of their traditional fishing grounds.




1 Dept of Conservation 2004
Submission Form