Public Participation in Conservation: The Taranaki Mounga Project

Abstract

This research is focused on critically reviewing and examining the nature of public participation in conservation through the lens of a landscape-scale conservation project; the Taranaki Mounga Project (TMP). TMP’s goal is to restore the ecological vitality and mauri (life essence) of Mount Taranaki and the surrounding environment. This research takes a qualitative approach to answer the main research question how does TMP employ public participation in conservation? through asking key informants from four different aspects of public participation in conservation (iwi representatives, TMP employees, local authority employees and volunteers) about their perspectives and impressions of how TMP uses public participation, and what makes public participation successful. Key areas explored by this research are: how Māori are engaged in conservation by TMP, how legislation impacts public participation in conservation, how conservation projects can act be a platform for personal and community benefits, and how conservation projects can achieve engagement with the public. This research also provides implications for current or future conservation projects to use public participation successfully within the context of conservation.