Te Hīhiri / Cultural advisory

Te Hīhiri

Assisting clients to meaningfully engage with iwi, hapū, whanau and Māori communities to better understand how to acknowledge and incorporate cultural values within planning, environmental and design processes and outputs.

It is critical to meaningfully engage with iwi, hapū, whanau and Māori communities to better understand how to acknowledge and incorporate their unique cultural values and aspirations within the processes and outputs of any planning, environmental or design project. Our cultural advisors are well-versed in mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge) and apply its concepts to inspire and ground our work by recognising, enhancing and expressing the aspirations of mana whenua and meeting our shared responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Te Hīhiri draws on the philosophies of sustainability and mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge) to produce unique and integrated solutions to environmental planning, ecology, and design projects. We consider that mātauranga Māori is complementary to modern design, science and environmental management practice, and our Te Hīhiri team has a range of skills across resource management, planning, policy, facilitation, co-design and engagement, and provide strategic advice to local and central government.

We take a proactive approach to building relationships with iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities across Aotearoa New Zealand and seek opportunities to enhance cultural values and understanding, whether through identifying and mapping cultural sites of significance, or enhancing the socio-economic and cultural aspects of environmental planning and resource management.

We assist clients in connecting with iwi and provide strategic advice to iwi Māori in relation to projects which affect them. Our working style is about authentic partnership and collaboration.