Abstract
Many rural communities in Aotearoa New Zealand sit within dynamic and multi-hazard
environments. As such, it is important that local authorities plan for complex environmental
change and empower communities to be prepared for hazard events, enhancing their resilience
in an uncertain world. While local authorities are aware of the long-term challenges that
cascading natural hazards and climate change impacts present, they are often reluctant and
fearful of engaging with communities in participatory processes.
This research uses Massey’s (2005; 2009) relational understanding of place as a collection of
simultaneous stories-so-far to explore community engagement. In particular, the research
focuses on the extent to which diverse stories of place are embedded in community engagement
undertaken by the Otago Regional Council (ORC) as they develop a long-term, natural hazards
adaptation strategy for the area at the Head of Lake Whakatipu/Whakatipu-wai-Māori. The
ORC has adopted the Dynamic Adaptive Pathways Planning (DAPP) approach and is working
in collaborating with local communities, the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Kāi Tahu and
the Department of Conservation. DAPP has been promoted by the Ministry for the
Environment as a useful tool for local authorities in adaptation planning and decision-making.
However, there has been limited research on participation in DAPP, despite both policy and
academic research recognising the importance of community engagement in improving
outcomes for affected communities.
Drawing on data collected through qualitative methods, including interviews, participant
observation and narrative analysis, this research identifies diverse stories-so-far of Head of
Lake Whakatipu, and the extent to which such stories are recognised in engagement within
DAPP. Diverse stories of the Head of Lake Whakatipu identified in this research reveal
community values, degrees of risk tolerance, power relations between groups and aspirations
for the future. This research shows that these inform and enrich engagement in DAPP.
Community engagement at the Head of the Whakatipu has facilitated knowledge exchange of
local knowledge and western science stories and dominant values of the community. However,
it has been limited in exploring mana whenua stories and stories of other groups in the
Glenorchy community. In conclusion, this research argues it is crucial that diverse stories of
place are recognised in adaptation planning to ensure that communities are empowered to
contribute to decision-making on issues that affect them most.