He Taura He Hononga

Weaving partnership, planning and recovery after Cyclone Gabrielle

Cyclone Gabrielle had significant impact on Heretaunga / Hastings District in 2023. The scale of recovery was unprecedented: hundreds of slips, damaged bridges and culverts across multiple catchments.

In this context, WSP supported He Taura, He Hononga, a Kaupapa Māori‑led planning and engagement approach that redefined how large‑scale disaster recovery could be delivered. Rather than treating engagement and consenting as parallel processes, the project wove tikanga, mātauranga Māori and statutory planning into a single, integrated recovery framework.

Planning for people, place and diversity

From the outset, the planning approach recognised that communities were experiencing the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in different ways. Understanding who was affected – and how – became the foundation of the planning process.

To support this, WSP developed a live GIS mapping tool that overlaid damaged sites with Post‑Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) and hapū boundaries, marae locations and culturally sensitive areas. Updated continuously, this tool became the single source of data for the recovery programme, allowing planners, councils and mana whenua to clearly see where work was occurring and what engagement was required.

A partnership‑led engagement model

He Taura, He Hononga was built on partnership with four PSGEs and two hapū. Together, we co‑designed engagement pathways, governance arrangements and cultural conditions that reflected the distinct identities, rohe (tribal boundaries) and tikanga (protocols) of each group.

Engagement was continuous and grounded in tikanga. Hui were held kanohi‑ki‑te‑kanohi (face to face), on site and at marae, with cultural protocols guiding how and when works progressed. Cultural monitors became central to delivery, acting as the eyes and ears of mana whenua across hundreds of repair and rebuild sites. Their presence protected wāhi tapu, taonga species and mauri, while supporting contractors to work appropriately within complex cultural landscapes.

Location

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Project Status

Complete

Statutory innovation at scale

One of the project’s defining achievements was the development of an area‑wide consent. Faced with nearly 125 potential resource consents across the recovery footprint, WSP worked alongside mana whenua and council partners to co‑design a single, integrated consenting framework.

This reduced the consent requirement to 22. The area‑wide consent enabled faster mobilisation of repairs and rebuilds, reduced duplication, and resulted in clear, consistent conditions for contractors and delivery teams.

Outcomes that reconnect and uplift

Through He Taura, He Hononga, WSP helped deliver outcomes that reconnected communities physically, socially and culturally. Cultural values were safeguarded across the programme through site‑specific protections, tailored Cultural Impact Assessments where required, and ongoing cultural monitoring.

The approach strengthened long‑term relationships between mana whenua, council and project teams, and ensured recovery works honoured whakapapa, whenua and kaitiakitanga.

A blueprint for future recovery

He Taura, He Hononga demonstrates that a planning methodology can guide Aotearoa New Zealand’s response to future climate‑driven events. By weaving together statutory innovation, kaupapa‑based engagement and large‑scale infrastructure planning, the project sets a new benchmark for inclusive, resilient recovery.