Planning the urban foodscape: policy and regulation of urban agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

ABSTRACT Policy support for urban agriculture (UA) has increased internationally in the past decade, driven by factors such as urban decay, food insecurity, climate change and disasters, self-determination efforts and the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, there has been little analysis of the emergent practices across different cities in Aotearoa New Zealand. To address this gap, we examine key aspects of UA in Aotearoa and assess the application of local plans and regulation to determine how UA is defined and treated in the four most populous cities. The results reveal a lack of specific attention to and policy direction for UA. This vacuum is compounded by purpose-driven zoning typologies, restrictive resource use controls, scant provision for Māori food practices and a failure to keep pace with the changing forms of UA. The results identify the need for cities to review and clarify provision for UA, to create greater certainty and where appropriate, facilitation of food sovereignty and diverse urban foodscapes. Glossary of Māori terms: Ahikā: continuous occupation of territory; Ahuwhenua: agriculture; Huawhenua: horticulture; Kai: food; Kaitiakitanga: guardianship; Kaupapa Māori: Māori customary practice; Kūmara: sweet potato; Mahinga kai/hauanga kai: the customary and contemporary activity of and the place of harvesting, collection, hunting and gathering of food resources and other materials; Mākete: market; Mana whenua: the people of the land who have mana or customary authority - their historical, cultural and genealogical heritage are attached to the land and sea; Māra kai: food garden; Marae: open area in front of the meeting house, where formal greetings and discussions take place. Includes the grounds and buildings around the marae; Mātauranga Māori: the body of knowledge originating from Māori ancestors, including the Māori world view and perspectives, Māori creativity and cultural practices; Pākehā: New Zealander of European descent; Papakāinga: a settlement or village which has genealogical connections to that land; Māra rongoā: medicinal garden; Tangata whenua: indigenous people - people born of the land; Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Te reo Māori text of the Treaty of Waitangi; Tikanga: protocol - the customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context; Whānau: extended family; Whare hoko: the use of land and/or buildings to provide readily accessible retail activities and commercial services required on a day to day basis Glossary sources: Te Aka Online Māori Dictionary, Auckland Unitary Plan 2016, Christchurch District Plan 2017.