WHAKAORA I TE MAURI O TE WHENUA | Restoring the Life Force of the Land | Lauren Kendon & Zoe Mason (Group 01)
Whakaora i te Mauri o te Whenua focuses on the reconnection of people, history, and nature to restore the mauri (life force) of the land through ecological restoration and community engagement.
The overall aim of this project is to create an ecosanctuary and historic reserve at Mātai Moana in Te Motu Kairangi (Miramar). We have worked with the community to understand how the site works and what they would like to see in the future of Mātai Moana. Through these discussions we have learned about the layers of history on the site and the work that is being done to restore the ecology of Te Motu Kairangi. This knowledge has been the foundation of our design.
Our design aims to reconnect people with the layers that make up the landscape. Whakaora i te Mauri o te Whenua is a project that is designed with a Māori worldview, which focuses on interconnectedness and respect for nature. This interconnectedness currently feels missing at Mātai Moana, so this project aims to reconnect people, history, and nature to restore the land.
This is achieved through the reconnection of key Māori concepts into the landscape. These concepts include Whakapapa, Mauri, Kaitiakitanga, Whenua, Kotahitanga, and Whanaungatanga. These concepts connect our design to the essence of the Māori worldview, combining ancestral heritage, environmental enhancement, and community cohesion.
Whakapapa traces the lineage between people and the land, while Mauri embodies the life force in ecosystems. Kaitiakitanga represents the duty of guardianship towards the environment, and Whenua signifies the spiritual and cultural significance of the land. Kotahitanga promotes unity, and Whanaungatanga fosters interconnected relationships within communities, creating cultural resilience and harmony with nature.
The integration of these concepts into our design (detailed further in our framework) creates a landscape that restores the Mauri of the Land.
