Cultural Relevance
Kaitiakitanga is a New Zealand Māori term used for the concept of guardianship of the sky, the sea and the land. Kaitiakitanga means the act of protecting the responsibility of stewardship, and from a Māori worldview- the authority entrusted to the people of the land to live in a way that ensures that Whenua(land), Wai (water resources) and Ranginui(sky father) remains in a state befitting for future generations.
The Māori community considers themselves as stewards of the environment, responsible for protecting natural resources. Māori culture has long held the belief in the interconnectedness of all things including the relationship between people and the natural environment. It involves a holistic approach to resource management that takes into account both the economic and practical aspects, as well as the spiritual and cultural values associated with the environment.
As a result ,Kaikiakitanga is increasingly being recognized as an important principle in environmental conservation and sustainability with its framework used to develop sustainable resource management practices in New Zealand and beyond.
The Māori teach us to have strong spiritual bonds to land, water, sky and Mother Earth. This connection is shown when a baby is born and then he is buried in a sacred site. The Māori community's principles act as an inspiration for us to protect our land and water from erosion, deforestation and inappropriate land use.