Each Thursday we take you through another imperative of the Living Building Challenge, with Pā Reo as a case study. The third imperative of the Place Petal is I03 Habitat Exchange.
The intent of I03 Habitat Exchange is to protect land for other species as more and more land is taken for human use. All projects must set aside land equal to the Project Area (or 0.4 hectares/1 acre, whichever is greater) away from the project site, in perpetuity, through an approved land trust organisation or the Institute’s Living Future Habitat Exchange Program.
The compliance pathway taken was a financial contribution to an approved land trust to purchase and protect an area of land equal to or greater than the area disturbed by the project site. The contribution must go towards the purchase and protection, in perpetuity, of intact and high-value ecosystems.
Te Wānanga o Raukawa operates within a framework of kaupapa and tikanga, guided by principles such as Te Reo, Whakapapa, Manaakitanga, and Kaitiakitanga. These principles not only shape the operations of the Wānanga but also guide the behaviour of its workers within projects like Pā Reo.
Through regular staff inductions, the alignment between Te Ao Māori and the Living Building Challenge is highlighted, emphasising kaitiakitanga (stewardship of the environment). The Wānanga acts as a kaitiaki for its students, staff, and the wider community, including surrounding Iwi and Hapu throughout Aotearoa. This stewardship extends to the land within and beyond the Wānanga's boundaries, reflecting a commitment to nurturing and protecting people and place.
Initially the project pursued a QE2 trust area of wetland co-located with the site, however this was unacceptable and subsequently we pursued a generous offer of a land trust arrangement in Vermont in the US. However both possibilities did not proceed. Ultimately, an exception was granted for use of the adjacent wetland which is cared for in perpetuity by existing practices of The Ōtaki & Porirua Trusts Board.
Te Wānanga o Raukawa in its relationship with Ōtaki demonstrate a dedication to look after the whenua for subsequent generations.
“Wilderness says: Human beings are not paramount, Earth is not for Homo sapiens alone, human life is but one life form on the planet and has no right to take exclusive possession. Yes, wilderness for its own sake, without any need to justify it for human benefit. Wilderness for wilderness. For bears and whales and titmice and rattlesnakes and stink bugs. And… wilderness for human beings… because it is home.” — Dave Foreman, Confessions of an Eco-Warrior