Urban Streams

A FRAMEWORK FOR A CULTURAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF URBAN STREAMS AUGUST 2012 Cover page photos Left: Ross Creek (in the headwaters of the Leith). Right: the Leith in its Lower Reaches. 2 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 .........................................................................................................................................................................5 BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................................................................5 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES .....................................................................................................................................6 REPORT STRUCTURE ..........................................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 2: METHODS ...................................................................................................................................................9 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................9 STUDY AREA .........................................................................................................................................................9 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................................9 QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS ..........................................................................................................................11 QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................................11 SUMMARY OF METHODS APPLIED ...................................................................................................................11 TE RUNANGA O OTAKOU ...................................................................................................................................12 THE USE OF QUOTATIONS ................................................................................................................................12 CHAPTER 3: CULTURAL CONCEPTUALISATIONS ..................................................................................................13 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................................13 DEMONSTRATING AN UNDERSTANDING OF CATCHMENTS ..........................................................................17 PROTECTING WÄHI TAPUTAONGA .................................................................................................................26 INTERGENERATIONAL CONTINUITY .................................................................................................................27 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................................28 CHAPTER 4: URBAN WATER CYCLE ..........................................................................................................................29 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................................29 THE URBAN WATER CYCLE ...............................................................................................................................29 URBAN WATER CYCLE INFRASTRCUTURE ......................................................................................................33 ACTIVITIES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS .................................................................................................................44 THE IMPACTS OF URBANISATION .....................................................................................................................43 INTEGRATING VALUES IMPACTS ..................................................................................................................53 A SUMMARY OF A POSSIBLE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK ............................................................................56 CHAPTER 5: THE CULTURAL HEALTH INDEX FOR STREAMS ............................................................................59 OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE CULTURAL HEALTH INDEX CHI .................................................................59 THE EVOLUTION OF COMPONENT OF THE CHI SITE STATUS ....................................................................61 THE EVOLUTION OF COMPONENT OF THE CHI MAHINGA KAI ...................................................................61 EVOLUTION OF COMPONENT OF THE CHI CULTURAL STREAM HEALTH MEASURE CHSM ................62 COMPONENTS OF THE URBAN CHI ..................................................................................................................62 RELEVANCE OF PROPOSED INDICATORS TO OTHER URBAN FRAMEWORKS ............................................67 3 CHAPTER 6: URBAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE – THE DUNEDIN CASE STUDY ...........................................69 PROCESS ............................................................................................................................................................69 A DESCRIPTION OF THE URBAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOOTPRINT 70 TANGATA WHENUA ASSOCIATION WITH WATERWAYS ..................................................................................79 CHARACTERISING THE CATCHMENTS .............................................................................................................85 ASPIRATIONS OF TANGATA WHENUA WITH RESPECT TO URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT ........................87 TANGATA WHENUA IMPACT ASSESSMENT .....................................................................................................89 CHANGES TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE RIVER ............................................................................................94 TANGATA WHENUA ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE ..................................................................... 103 CHAPTER 7: RECOMMENDING A TOOL FOR A CULTURAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR URBAN STREAMS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 111 A CULTURAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN STREAMS ...............................................111 ADDITIONAL FORMS .........................................................................................................................................116 IMPLEMENTING THE CHI .................................................................................................................................. 116 CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 117 4 Chapter 1 BACKGROUND This research examines cultural dimensions of urban water management for the purpose of developing an assessment tool for use by tangata whenua The results of Tangata whenua assessments have implications for water policy making and planning Urban hydrology is particularly challenging because water management is so closely intertwined with the needs and concerns of Tangata whenua which are to be balanced alongside those of diverse stakeholders such as residential populations businesses and environmental groups Niemcyznowicz In many cities in New Zealand obtaining sufficient highquality water resources for a growing urban population poses a major challenge Decision makers planners and hydrologists are aware of these challenges but ultimately the range of acceptable policy and management options available for implementation are shaped by public opinion Given the strong human component in urban hydrology decision makers must be aware of and responsive to urban residents’ knowledge ie beliefs and perceptions of water quality and water management because this affects political opinion Niemcyznowicz Simultaneously research suggests that ecological understanding among urbanites is often relatively poor Cox Gober Barthel but few studies have focused on water specifically Further in a New Zealand context we need to consider how urban water management influences or is influenced by this understanding and whether it conflicts with the values beliefs practices and perceptions held by Tangata whenua given section e requires their interests to be recognised and provided for To help examine these influences we investigate locally situated cultural knowledge of two urban streams in the city of Dunedin An urban population and all key activities associated with modern cities for example transportation electricity supply water supply waste disposal heating supply of services manufacturing etc dramatically alter landscapes including waters sediment chemicals and microorganisms These changes then impact urban ecosystems including urban waters and their aquatic ecosystems they sustain and result in their degradation As a result the provision of water services to urban populations is highly challenging Within this complex setting this report focuses on the management of urban waterways recognising that effective management of urban waters should reflect an understanding of a cultural interpretation of the anthropogenic impacts

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