Te Tangi a te Manu — insight from co-author Rachel de Lambert

Te Tangi a te Manu: Aotearoa New Zealand Landscape Assessment Guidelines has been published by Tuia Pito Ora | New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects.

It’s taken five years of collaborative work by Gavin Lister, Rachel de Lambert and Alan Titchener to put together Te Tangi a te Manu, Guidelines for landscape Assessment in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The 285-page hardcover book encapsulates the collective knowledge of landscape architects working in landscape assessment under New Zealand’s legislative framework; and the Guidelines acknowledge tāngata whenua and mātauranga Māori, affording due respect to pūkengatanga – the knowledge and expertise relating to an iwi, hapū or whānau.

“The guidelines are for landscape assessment under a statutory context in Aotearoa New Zealand: to assist people who are working in a consenting situation, or making District or Unitary plans,” Rachel explains.

“We are discovering, now that Te Tangi a te Manu is finalised and available in print, the guidelines have a wider application for landscape architects and others interested in the landscape and our bicultural Te ao Māori and Te ao Pākehā worldviews.”

The project originated as a Ministry for the Environment contract, initiated by Shannon Bray, to update the 2010 Best Practice Guide. Isthmus Group and Boffa Miskell collaborated to submit a joint proposal in response and were awarded the contract. When the funds were subsequently withdrawn, Gavin Lister and Rachel de Lambert made a voluntary commitment, with the support of their Isthmus & Boffa Miskell colleagues to proceed, later developing a memorandum of agreement with Tuia Pito Ora.

“Once Gavin and I had done the first tranche of work, we realised we couldn’t progress these guidelines in an Aotearoa New Zealand context without fully addressing Te Ao Māori,” Rachel says.

“We had a hui with Te Tau-a-Nuku (the roopu of Māori landscape architects), and they then had a discussion around our endeavour; and through that process, Te Tau-a-Nuku ran their own series of hui and formulated content to incorporate into a fully revised text,” Rachel recalls.

The authors knew it was essential to bring the two worldviews together, holistically within the document. A fundamental aspect of Te Tangi a te Manu is that Te Ao Māori isn’t an add-on but is imbued throughout.

“There’s a chapter that addresses Te Ao Māori right in the beginning, because you need to set that framework, as it informs and is interwoven with what follows,” says Rachel. “In working through bringing those threads together, we became three authors – with Alan Titchener joining Gavin and me, as the voice of the Te Tau-a-Nuku collective.”

The legislative context has changed – and will continue to change – since work began on the Guidelines, but Rachel says that evolution and progress was on the authors’ minds from the beginning.

“The Guidelines are principles-based, they’re not contingent upon or directly related to the provisions of the RMA and other legislation. Landscape assessment is subjective, by nature; in assessing landscape, perceptual values, and peoples’ values associated with landscape along with the physical are recognised,” Rachel explains.

“A key agreed principle is that there is no singular approach to landscape assessment; no formula: she continues. “The value of the Guidelines is the fundamental direction around consistent practice. The Guidelines are a methodology, but they require people to consider and develop the appropriate methods for each assessment based on the particular landscape, purpose, and outcomes.”

Rachel says that being based on principles, rather than a defined approach or formula, leaves space for practice to evolve, without the Guidelines themselves becoming obsolete.

“In bringing together the Te Ao Māori perspectives and changing perceptions around landscape and values, I think Te Tangi a te Manu is very much a point in time… but the Guidelines are a living document. There will be some updates necessary, perhaps, when the new legislation comes out, but the fundamental basis of the Guidelines will remain valid, whatever that new legislation is, that’s the way they have been structured.

“We trust the Institute will find a way to update the Guidelines as needed to capture evolving practice and be informed by relevant decisions made in Environment Court.”

And, while Rachel de Lambert’s name appears with Gavin Lister and Alan Titchener as the three authors of Te Tangi a te Manu, she points out that she also represented ‘The Boffa Miskell Collective’, standing on the shoulders of Boffa Miskell’s practice and the collective practice of those who have gone before and those who generously gave their time and materials to make Te Tangi a te Manu the taonga that it is.

“There’s much in the book for Boffa Miskell to be proud of,” she says. “The Kupu Whakataki (preface) was provided by William Hatton and Rangitahi Kawe; and William also provided the whakataukī that provide a depth of connection to Māori concepts of landscape and caring for whenua and people.

Boffa Miskell landscape architects and landscape planners were among those who provided written feedback on the draft Guidelines; including Amanda Anthony, Megan Ash, Monica Bainbridge, Chris Bently, James Bentley, Blair Clinch, Boyden Evans, Liz Gavin, Rhys Girvan, John Goodwin, Mark Lewis, Tom Lines, Mathilde Menard, Craig Pauling, Yvonne Pflüger, Luke Porter, John Potter, Rebecca Ryder, Bryan Sanson, Jo Soanes, Topsy Steele, Julia Wick, Matt Peacocke, and Hannah Wilson. Julia Wick was also instrumental in assisting with logistics for workshops and other communications between Tuia Pito Ora Executive, members and the authors.

Photos, renderings and sketches were contributed by Rebecca Ryder, David Irvine, James Bentley, Rachel de Lambert, Sarah Collins, and Emma McRae; and a number of example visual simulations were taken from Boffa Miskell projects; and Boffa Miskell graphic designer Vanessa Le Grand Jacob had some early input to the graphic design.

“Te Tangi a te Manu has been a truly collaborative endeavour,” says Rachel. “And that has led to what we feel is a true taonga for the profession. It’s something we all can feel proud of and use as a basis for our evolving practice.”