Abstract

Restoring Maori cultural landscape using GIS as the key planning tool
Track: Tribal/Indigenous GIS Programs
Authors: Catriona O'Neill

Nga Hau E Wha o Papararangi community site, just outside Wellington city is a picture perfect site 250m above sea level, overlooking Wellington harbor. A large number of stakeholders and volunteers are involved in this project which aims at restoring the local native bush to its original glory. This includes planting trees and plants for weaving, medicinal and cooking purposes and an overall objective of returning birds and other wildlife species back into the area.
ArcGIS is crucial to the success of the project and is a fundamental to decision making and planning efforts.
Nominated representatives from Nga Hau E Wha are being trained and educated on the use of Esri ArcGIS tools. This empowers and motivates them to be self sufficient in the use of ArcGIS. It will allow the representatives to visualize and analyze the current landscape and assist with site optimization and suitability for planting and landscaping, pest and weed control, bird counts and biodiversity monitoring.