Abstract
This chapter explores Indigenous Māori planning histories, offering a lens through which to understand Indigenous futurity—an interconnected vision of past, present, and future. Drawing from the author’s experiences as an Indigenous planning practitioner and academic, the chapter traces Māori planning traditions, illustrating how they have adapted within a settler-colonial framework. Rooted in ancestral knowledge, Māori planning integrates environmental stewardship, cultural practices, and relational worldviews to foster long-term sustainability and collective well-being. The chapter critiques the colonial denigration of Indigenous planning, highlighting how Western planning systems have excluded Indigenous voices, leading to cultural displacement and environmental degradation. Despite these challenges, Māori communities are actively reclaiming their planning authority, seeking Indigenous-led futures that resist colonial frameworks. Indigenous groups have developed strategies to engage with settler planning systems while also advocating for self-determination beyond such frameworks. These efforts align with global Indigenous movements seeking decolonisation and self-determination in planning. Ultimately, the chapter advocates for a transformative approach to planning that recognises Indigenous authority. This necessitates a shift in planning theory and practice to create more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable futures. The chapter calls for Indigenous planning to play a central role in shaping urban, rural and environmental futures.