Mana whenua have been observing and interpreting changes within the environment in Tāmaki Makaurau over many generations. This wisdom has been built upon an additional 50,000 years of mātauranga passed down from ancestors.  O Mahurangi is a roading project being delivered in partnership with mana whenua who have formed Te Aukaha - a collective operational steering group, which form part of the governing Project Advisory Board (PAB) enabling a Te Ao Māori lens across the project.

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A Taiao framework has been incorporated into the philosophy of environmental management plans and on-site monitoring to proactively elevate Te Ao Māori to its proper place in informing design of plans rather than being retrofitted in and embed tikanga into design and practise of the mahi.  Kaitiaki are integrated into the construction team, providing guidance on alignment with maramataka, getting hands on with ESC monitoring, ecology works and archaeological monitoring and investigation.

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The taiao framework is reported on, with learnings used to make changes and improvements on site, through monitoring 5 key values of rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga, manākitanga, wairuatanga and whānaungatanga within the domain of Papatūānuku, ranginui, tāne, Tangaroa and tāwhirimātea.

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Embedding Te Ao Māori and tikanga into compliance and construction allows the Alliance to build strong, meaningful and enduring relationships that achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

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