How can we become good ancestors?

Claire O'Shaughnessy is a Senior Landscape Architect at Jasmax. In her role, she focuses on delivering environmentally and socially regenerative design outcomes. The below article has been adapted from her keynote presentation, ‘How can we become good ancestors?’ delivered at the UrbanismNZ Conference, 2023. 

As the first generation of my Irish whānau to grow up in Tāmaki Makaurau, I had the benefit of swimming in sparkling waters, eating kai straight from the moana and climbing the gnarled branches of Pōhutukawa. As a child, little did I consider that our natural resources would be diminishing for future generations. This realisation led me to consider my responsibility as a professional in the built environment. Rather than experiencing paralysing despair at the prospect of our current trajectory, I now ask myself, is it possible to remain hopeful for a brighter future? How can I become a good ancestor to my mokopuna through my role as a landscape architect?

The role of ‘ancestor’ positions us in deep time. Thinking about a future for our grandchildren offers us a perspective spanning one or two generations ahead, but how can we connect our actions to those who will live on these lands in 500 years? If we think about time in relation to the natural world, our significant maunga, for example, we can begin to connect emotionally and imaginatively to systems and places that have existed for millennia. I interpret that the te ao Māori view of land as ancestor means taking responsibility for our environment. This perspective provides a foundation for those striving towards a positive legacy.

As designers, the time we’re involved in a project is limited, yet the masterplans we design can be used as valuable tools for protecting, reviving, and reimagining the future. 

The Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei masterplan — which Jasmax developed with the hapū  — was established as a holistic multi-generational vision and a long-term decision-making document for the site’s development. Mātāpono (principles) were shaped by whānau for whānau and evolved through workshops with a steering rōpū of their tribal leaders. With limited land available and the desire to provide all whānau with the opportunity to return to their whenua, the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei masterplan proposes the concept of vertical papakāinga. By building up and minimising the footprint of built elements, future generations will be accommodated on the whenua, providing resilience while also allowing the space for natural systems to flourish. The concept expresses a distinct hapū identity throughout.

Jasmax is fortunate to work with clients like Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei , who are purposeful in planning a future where their people and community thrive. For decision-makers and designers, both tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti, we all have a role to play, and the concept of legacy needs to always be at the forefront of our minds. If we think about our responsibility to the future of the people and places we love, how do we become good ancestors?