Author(s): Kepa Morgan
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Multi-criterion Decision Making; Indigenous Knowledge; Holistic Assessment
Abstract: The Mauri Model DMF is unique in its approach to the management of water resources as the framework offers a transparent and inclusive approach to considering the environmental, economic, social and cultural aspects of decisions being contemplated. The Mauri Model DMF is unique because it is capable of including multiple-worldviews and adopts mauri (intrinsic value or wellbeing/Chi) in the place of monetary equivalents as the base metric for sustainability assessment. The Mauri Model DMF does this using a two stage process that first identifies participant? s worldview and inherent bias regarding water resource management, and then facilitates transparent assessment of selected sustainability performance indicators. The assessment can then be contemplated as the separate environmental, economic, social and cultural dimensions of the decision, collectively as an overall result; or the priorities associated with different worldviews can be applied to determine the sensitivity of the result to different cultural contexts or worldviews. The Waikato River system has significant spiritual relevance for the Tainui people, who regard it as an ancestor and indicator of their mauri (well-being). The Waikato has been the focus of on-going tensions between Māori spiritual values and beliefs, and national engineering objectives. The Waikato is now a strategic asset for power generation and other contemporary uses. Results of a preliminary desktop sustainability assessment for the Waikato River are presented and future opportunities identified. The application of the Mauri Model DMF to the Waikato River provides an insight into potential opportunities for application in other Asian and Pacific contexts.
Year: 2010