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Introduction

Following the review of the government’s climate change policies in 2005 and the dropping of the proposed carbon tax the government via its lead Ministries,1 unveiled five policy framework discussion documents in February 2007 and embarked on a consultation process. The documents concerned government work programmes on issues such as energy, sustainable land management, and transport and explored alternatives to the proposed carbon tax (such as a more narrowly focused tax, emissions trading, voluntary agreements). In its attempt to meet its responsibilities under the Treaty of Waitangi, the government included as part of its wider consultation a process specifically for Māori that involved 12 regional consultation hui held across the country. The government also convened a Māori representative group made up of participants from the twelve regional hui. Having been presented with the government’s agenda, Māori provided their feedback about climate change issues and the solutions proposed by government officials from their own perspectives.

The government, in light of all feedback received on the discussion documents, settled on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as its preferred response to climate change and the Kyoto Protocol. In October 2007, the government conducted a further 12 consultation hui specifically on the ETS. The proposed ETS addresses some of the major concerns that had been raised during the earlier consultation round, such as the possible inclusion of pre-1990 indigenous forests. The government also heeded the call for better Māori-specific information sharing by commissioning a report: Māori impacts from the ETS – Interim High Level Findings by Chris Karamea Insley and Richard Meade.2 It also supported the participation of Māori Reference Group members at each of the regional hui and supported additional hui for the Māori Reference Group on 25 September and 25 October 2007; a Māori leadership-lea National Māori Climate Change Hui on 3 September and 26 October 2007; a National Māori Forestry Hui on 8 November 2007; and weekly meetings of an executive of Māori Reference Group during October and November. Finally, government support was also provided for the transportation, accommodation and meals for members of the Climate Change Iwi Leadership Group, Maori Reference Group Executive and secretariat to meet with Ministers and attend all national hui including the most recent one held on 18 December 2007.

This report outlines some key themes and notable points that have arisen from the questions, comments, challenges and ideas of key tangata whenua who gave generously of their time to attend each of the 12 consultation hui around the country. Our approach is to allow the words of the hui participants themselves to express important points.

Māori are generally supportive of the government now seeing the benefits of a sustainable approach and its attempts to tackle the issue of climate change. Just as they had done in the earlier round of consultation hui concerning climate change generally, Māori continued to make their comments and questions on ETS within a framework of a Māori worldview which is based on a spiritual connection to this earth, and they continue to see the issues as being squarely within the Treaty of Waitangi. Most of the discussions during this round of hui, however, focussed on gaining a better understanding of the complexities of the proposed ETS and how it impacts on diverse Māori realities. The National Māori Forestry Hui held on 8 November was specifically designed for further explanation, modelling, and outlining various options for Māori.

This Summary of Key Themes is not a substitute for the primary sources of information which are the minutes of each hui, including the minutes and recommendations of the National Māori Climate Change Hui on 26 October 2007, the National Maori Forestry Hui on 8 November 2007, and the 2nd National Iwi Leaders Climate Change Hui held on 18 December 2007.

1  Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Ministry of Economic Development.

2  Dated 23 October 2007.

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