Dr Robin Quigg and Els Russell, from the University of Otago department of public health, investigated how parks and reserves had historically been used as colonial tools in the formation of settler nations, disrupting indigenous peoples’ deep connections to their lands.
The research included a place-naming analysis of Dunedin City Council parks and reserves.
They found just 7% of Dunedin’s reserves had names that seemed to appropriately reflect Kai Tahu rūnaka histories and values, with 75% being reflective of Tangata Tiriti remembering.
"Across Aotearoa New Zealand, parks and reserves demonstrate the lasting impact of land alienation, a pain still deeply felt today, with reserves demonstrating that while unoccupied, they continue to carry colonial histories in such features as their names, the activities facilitated and types and patterns of vegetation," Dr Quigg said.
"Whose version of nature are we seeing in those straight rows of poplars by the sports ground, or in parks named after someone else's great-great-grandfather who sat on a Domain Board?".
Parks and reserves needed to better represent Māori histories, values and relationships to the land.
"Given that the legislation guiding parks and reserves management in Aotearoa fails to uphold Te Tiriti, it is incumbent upon policymakers, as public servants, to fairly acknowledge Māori whānau and hapū, whose histories, values and practices have long been marginalised and excluded from dominant narratives and systems.
"Strong connections to land are vital to Māori wellbeing and worth defending."
The idea behind the research stemmed from her background in parks and recreation as well as Māori health, Dr Quigg said.
"We know that Aoraki was given to Ngāi Tahu in settlement and then given back.
"We know that the Ureweras have been given back.
"We know that the Whanganui River is specifically mentioned [in the Treaty], but we forget that every day we have a piece of land that we go past in our community that has another story and has other values."
DCC general manager of city services Scott MacLean said they were aware of the study, and accepted more needed to be done.
"We recently partnered with mana whenua to develop playground designs inspired by the legend of Mahuika and Māui.
"Kāi Tahu artist Madison Kelly incorporated these narrative aspects into illustrations of plants related to the story as well as insects/creatures that are found in the Otago region gardens, as well as in the bright fiery colour palette on the playground floor.
"This project also embeds illustrations of specific plant species related to Mahuika’s fire; patetē, pukatea, houhere, māhoe and kaikōmako."
The Dunedin Botanic Garden is the oldest in New Zealand and rated as a Garden of International Significance.
"All of this is reflected in our most recent residents’ opinion survey results, which showed the garden remains our top-ranked facility with a satisfaction score of 92%.
"We can always do more, which is why we're also developing the botanic garden plan alongside mana whenua as partners."
