Prepared by Jackie Dingfelder, 2016
With funding from the sponsors of the Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy
Jackie Dingfelder, from Portland, Oregon, served as Policy Director for the Mayor of Portland, Oregon. She is a PhD candidate at Portland State University in Public Policy at the Hatfield School of Government.
This report focuses on New Zealand’s freshwater reform efforts since 2009. My research includes:
I describe the key institutions and actors shaping and constraining New Zealand’s freshwater reform discussions, and review the status of Crown/iwi discussions on rights and interests in freshwater.
My research contains three regional-level case studies (Waikato, Gisborne, and Wellington), based on semi-structured interviews, to assess how indigenous perspectives are being incorporated into the freshwater governance and management processes. I also present a United States – based example of collaborative indigenous co-management as a point of comparison.
Key findings and recommendations to strengthen a bi-cultural approach to integrated water management include: central government demonstrating clear leadership and support of regional efforts; expanding local capacity and national-level infrastructure; fostering greater understanding and dialogue about different worldviews; and promoting support tools for collaborative processes.
Download the full report in PDF format:
New Zealand’s Approach to Integrated Freshwater Management with a Focus on Indigenous Interests