When the MV Rena struck Otaiti (Astrolabe) Reef in the Bay of Plenty in October 2011, the impacts on Ngai Te Hapu’s customary use of the area and associated kaitiakitanga (stewardship) obligations were immense and ongoing. Briefly, the MV Rena disaster brought to public attention the on-going collision between Māori and Pakeha cultural perspectives on the environment. This month’s Café Humanities event sees Buddy Mikaere take to the podium to discuss the difficulties in reconciling these two perspectives. 

Buddy Mikaere has a background in Human Resources and Industrial Relations and is a former Director of the Waitangi Tribunal. In the last twenty years he has been a consultant in the Resource Management Area specialising in cultural issues and consultation with tangata whenua.