This page relates to the 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency's policy on engaging with Māori.
Date of issue: December 2021 │ Investment policies will be reviewed every three years or when a new Government Policy Statement on land transport is released.
To ensure that decision-making related to National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) investments is undertaken in partnership with Māori.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and approved organisations have an important role in supporting opportunities to partner with Māori while delivering transport solutions. This includes Māori engagement in investment decision making processes.
We (Waka Kotahi as investor) expect all approved organisations and Waka Kotahi (for its own activities) seeking funding from the NLTF to appropriately engage with Māori in respect of a proposed transport activity. References to Māori and appropriate engagement is guided by Hononga ki te Iwi, our Māori engagement framework or an equivalent engagement framework adopted by an approved organisation. The NLTF can be applied to costs of engagement, including Māori resourcing the engagement.
Hononga ki te iwi | our Māori engagement framework
The Crown is responsible for taking appropriate account of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi the Treaty of Waitangi. We invest the National Land Transport Fund in our capacity as a Crown entity. This policy is set in the context of obligations under the Land Transport Management Act 2003 and in accordance with Te Ara Kotahi, the Waka Kotahi Māori strategy.
Te Ara Kotahi provides strategic direction on how we work with and respond to Māori as the Crown’s Treaty partner, and what this means for how we do business. This includes times where Waka Kotahi plays multiple roles, such as when assessing requests for funding from the National Land Transport Fund for its own activities.
Waka Kotahi (for its own activities) and approved organisations are required to engage with Māori under relevant legislation and rules (including the Land Transport Management Act 2003, Land Transport Rules, Resource Management Act 1991 and Takutai Moana Act 2011).
This investment policy is one mechanism by which we provide opportunities for Māori to contribute to transport decision-making processes and foster the development of Māori capacity to contribute to these processes, pursuant to statutory obligations including section 18H of the Land Transport Management Act 2003.
It applies in addition to the requirements under section 18G of the Land Transport Management Act for Waka Kotahi (for its own activities) or an approved organisation to consult with Māori in relation to a proposed activity that affects or is likely to affect Māori land, or land subject to any Māori claims settlement act or Māori historical, cultural, or spiritual interests.
Hononga ki te Iwi is the supporting document to this policy and informs the interpretation of this policy in relation to appropriate engagement with Māori. This provides guidance to Waka Kotahi (for its own activities) on the different ways to engage with Māori. An approved organisation may follow its own guidance on engagement, as long as it meets a reasonable equivalent of appropriate engagement.
Māori and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
