COMMUNITY PROJECT #419 - CULTURAL MAPPING PROJECT
Mission Statement:
To protect our "Digital Whenua" by using GIS technology to map wāhi tapu and historical sites, creating a sovereign layer for planning and storytelling.
The Needs Assessment:
Many of our sacred sites and historical narratives are being lost to development or the "Semantic Entropy" of fading oral histories. Current "Colonial Maps" view the land as "Fee Simple" titles rather than an entangled living ancestor. We need a high-fidelity way to visualise our history to protect our sovereignty.
Core Objectives:
Map 50 high-priority wāhi tapu and historical sites using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology.
Train 5 local "Map Kaitiaki" in GIS software and digital data management.
Create an interactive "Digital Whenua" portal accessible to hapū for planning and education.
Secure all data under a sovereign Kaitiakitanga License to prevent external exploitation.
Stakeholder Map:
Hapū & Kaitiaki: The primary sources of knowledge and site locations.
Kaumātua: Providing the oral histories and narratives for the map layers.
GIS Tech Partners: Providing the software and technical training.
Local Councils: Using the map layers for district planning and protection.
The "Impact" Model:
This project builds "Cultural Negentropy" by securing our connection to the land. It is sustained by "Planning Protection" fees paid by developers and councils to access the non-sensitive data layers, ensuring that our heritage is protected while generating value for the hapū.
Engagement Strategy:
We will host "Whenua Wānanga" where elders and youth walk the land together with digital tools. We will use the map to tell the "Quantum Whakapapa" stories of the region, making the invisible history of the land visible to the next generation.
Resource Requirements:
GIS software licenses and high-precision GPS handheld devices.
Secure, marae-hosted servers for sensitive data storage.
Drone technology for high-resolution aerial mapping of wāhi tapu.
A dedicated project coordinator to manage data-sharing agreements.
Timeline of Action:
Week 1: Secure the Kaitiakitanga License framework for all mapping data.
Week 2: Conduct initial GIS training for the 5 "Map Kaitiaki".
Week 3: Begin field-mapping sessions with hapū elders and youth.
Week 4: Official launch of the "Digital Whenua" portal for the first pilot hapū.
Mauri Assessment
Te Taiao (Environment): +1 — Ensures that sacred natural sites are protected from destructive development.
Te Ahurea (Culture): +2 — Directly preserves and visualises our historical and spiritual connection to the whenua.
Te Tangata (Social): +1 — Fosters intergenerational connection through the sharing of oral histories on the land.
Te Pūtea (Economic): +1 — Provides high-tech job opportunities for local youth in GIS and data management.
