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that other aspects of cultural sustainability are important to sustainable
development (e.g. Overton et al, 1999; Clark, 2002) there has traditionally
been an inherent lack of cultural consideration in the SLA. Cahn (2006)
comments that the sustainable livelihoods framework has the potential to
incorporate cultural aspects, and details a revised SLA framework, where
culture is an ‘environment’ within which livelihoods exist, where culture
interacts with every aspect of a livelihoods system, and where culture is
ascribed as a unique livelihood asset (see Figure 1).
Taewa growers involved in this case study expressed the profound influence
of traditional Maori values and appreciations to their livelihoods, including
whakapapa, manaakitanga and whanaungatanga. As described in Chapter 2,
Williams and Robinson (2000) communicate a range of inherent traditional
Maori values which contribute towards social/cultural capital and Maori
identity including manaaki and whanaungatanga. Growers have illustrated the
holistic nature of these Maori values through the description of ‘Tapa Wha’,
where whakapapa and therefore culture is seen as an underlying thread.
5.4.1 Tapa Wha
A holistic approach in Maori terms requires looking at the world from the
perspective that everything is connected through whakapapa. ‘Tapa Wha’ as
described by growers, represents this holistic view of the world through four
dimensions or states of reality:
Te taha tinana – the physical dimension.
Te taha hinengaro – the mental dimension.
Te taha wairua – the spiritual dimension.
Te taha whanau – the family dimension.
Tapa Wha describes four dimensions from which an interwoven succession of
Maori values and ordinances spanning social, cultural, physical, human,
financial, and natural assets as described in the SLA can be realised.
Importantly, Tapa Wha illustrates the need for all assets to be considered as
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