Why land matters
Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua. As man passes from sight, the land remains.
An introduction to the importance of land and why we should protect our land ecosystem
New Zealand’s diverse landscapes allowed a large range of ecosystems to develop with distinct plants and animals. Soil varies across the country, and te reo Māori has more than 60 words for different soil types.
Land is our place to stand, our tūrangawaewae. Land and soil provide us with food, raw materials and clean water. Both Māori and Pākeha world views value soil as a resource or taonga.
Soil and land support our:
- economy
- regulate climate
- filter water
- harbour biodiversit
- store and cycle carbon and nutrients
- provide cultural significance and historical archives.
Land is important for other aspects of being human: it provides a connection to place and history – a space to play and learn, define culture, express spirituality, and anchor memory and identity.