Serrao-Neumann, SilviaRingham, Sandra LeeBarnsdall, Aaron2025-07-232025-07-232025-04-16https://hdl.handle.net/10289/17515The wellbeing of marine environments has a direct relationship with the types of whenua (land, placenta) use and management practices that go from the mountains to the sea. In Aotearoa, activities that are carried out in this land-marine interface, including those related to Nature-based Solutions (NbSs), are regulated by national, regional, and district policies (e.g., New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, regional plans, and district plans). However, due to its novel character, not all current policies account for the realisation of NbSs nor are NbSs’ potential for addressing the wellbeing of our marine environments well understood. This dissertation focuses on Tauranga Moana (the seas of Tauranga) as the chosen locality for the case study area, to: i) investigate how the Ngapeke 7 Trust’s community participants in the Ngāti Pūkenga area of Tauranga Moana understand and value NbSs for addressing the wellbeing of their marine systems; and, ii) review current planning policies and mechanisms to identify barriers, enablers, and gaps that support or hinder the implementation of NbSs in Tauranga Moana, observing through a Kaupapa Māori lens. Findings emphasize that integrating mātauranga Māori and Māori Ecological Knowledge (MEK) with scientific knowledge offers a holistic approach to environmental management, enhancing decision-making, education, and policy. Key Māori values, including whakapapa, mauri, and kaitiakitanga, are central to this approach. The research identifies gaps in policies regarding NbS realization and a need for greater understanding of NbS potential and Māori perspectives. Implications include the necessity of integrating MEK into environmental practices and policies, and the value of NbSs for effective and equitable environmental outcomes. Limitations include sample size and scope, which focused on the Ngapeke 7 block. This research contributes valuable insights for environmental planning and management by centring mātauranga Māori and values in NbS implementation for marine health.enAll items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.marineenvironmentwellbeingnature-based solutionsmātauranga māorikaupapa māoriecological knowledgekaitiakitangamauriwhakapapatangata whenuaiwihapūte taiaote ao māorimāori valuesmāori perspectivesfreshwatermarine healthwetlandssoil healthcarbon sequestrationbiodiversityecosystem servicesrestorationpermaculturesustainable agriculturerāhuigovernancepolicyclimate changecultural heritagecommunity engagementmāori knowledgeindigenous knowledgeenvironmental planningenvironmental managementcoastal protectionwater qualityair qualityland usemāori practicesmāori wellbeingmāori indicatorsmāori frameworksmāori researchmāori conceptsmāori principlesmāori traditionsmāori worldviewmāori epistemologymāori methodologiesmāori integrationmāori collaborationmāori educationmāori sustainabilitymāori resiliencemāori innovationmāori designmāori leadershipmāori empowermentmāori co-designmāori partnershipsmāori restorationmāori conservationmāori adaptationmāori mitigationmāori governancemāori policymāori communitymāori engagementmāori inclusionmāori representationmāori advocacymāori rightsmāori justicemāori equitymāori cultural safetymāori protocolsmāori ethicsmāori values alignmentmāori environmental ethicsmāori environmental justicemāori environmental sustainabilitymāori environmental resiliencemāori environmental innovationmāori environmental designmāori environmental leadershipmāori environmental empowermentmāori environmental co-designmāori environmental partnershipsmāori environmental restorationmāori environmental conservationmāori environmental adaptationmāori environmental mitigationmāori environmental governancemāori environmental policymāori environmental communitymāori environmental engagementmāori environmental inclusionmāori environmental representationmāori environmental advocacymāori environmental rightsmāori environmental equitymāori environmental cultural safetymāori environmental protocolsThesis