Abstract
Indigenous food sovereignty emphasises reciprocity with the environment, sustainability, and care for non-human relatives. Revitalising Indigenous food practices in urban spaces not only supports food security but also strengthens cultural identity and fosters a decolonised approach to urban planning. For Māori, food practices and cultural identity are shaped by deep ancestral ties to the environment. However, the European colonisation of Aotearoa New Zealand disrupted these traditions through land dispossession, limiting access to traditional food sources. Climate change and unsustainable food systems exacerbate food insecurity for Māori, especially in urban areas where most live.
Taken as a whole, the topic of Indigenous food sovereignty and planning is still in its infancy. Research is needed to extend the knowledge base. Hence, the present investigation of Māori food sovereignty, through the use of Indigenous food practices and how this can inform spatial planning and planning systems in Ōtepoti Dunedin, aims to contribute to reconfiguring planning futures.
In undertaking this research, a Kaupapa Māori approach was adopted that uses a methodology founded in Māori culture, history, knowledge, language, values, and worldviews. It facilitates the research being focussed on Māori interests, with direct benefit to Māori communities. The research has been centred on the activities of Māori communities in the city of Ōtepoti Dunedin, New Zealand.
The research finds that integrating mahinga kai and māra kai practices into urban planning frameworks has the potential to reconnect Māori to ancestral traditions, enhance ecological restoration, and promote biodiversity in urban spaces. However, systemic barriers rooted in the colonial planning system hinder the realisation of these benefits, highlighting the urgency of decolonised approaches and the prioritisation of Māori governance and sovereignty in planning praxis.
Knowledge generated from the research will assist a variety of Indigenous communities to work alongside each other to encourage urban restoration, enhance urban biodiversity, and fulfil Indigenous urban futurities. Furthermore, this research informs planning practitioners and local, regional, and national authorities as to how they can transform ways of thinking about urban spaces through the integration of Indigenous-led planning practices.
The research contributes to global conversations on decolonisation by demonstrating the potential of Indigenous-led planning to redefine urban spaces as inclusive, sustainable, and deeply connected to Indigenous values. It calls for transformative planning approaches that prioritise ecological restoration, uphold Indigenous sovereignty, and foster collaboration between Māori communities and planning agencies. The findings provide a foundation for future research and practical frameworks to support Indigenous food sovereignty in diverse urban contexts.