3. Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi Volume One development of land for residential, commercial, industrial and rural purposes has occurred on or near significant sites or features, resulting in their disturbance, damage and, in the worst cases, complete destruction. This has usually occurred as a result of ignorance of the significance of the site to iwi. However, in some cases artefacts from sites have been deliberately sought after and removed. Māo ri place names are also part of Marlborough’s cultural heritage. They provide an important link to the significance of traditional sites, historical events and spiritual associations. Many traditional place names have been lost and those that remain are under threat. Given the sustained economic development of Marlborough, it is likely that there will be an ongoing threat to remaining sites and features of significance to Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi. Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi cannot tolerate any further loss of their cultural heritage and protection of significant sites, features and place names is critical. Issue 3D – The impact of resource use on the mauri of natural resources. Mauri is the life force that exists in all things in the natural world, comprising both physical and spiritual qualities. If the environment is to flourish, the mauri within all natural things must be protected and sustained. Water bodies are particularly significant to Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi. This is because water is a “life force,” both spiritually, in terms of the connection to Atua, and physically in Marlborough’s dry climate. Wetlands, streams and rivers can therefore be likened to the “arteries” of the environment and the health of these water bodies is reflected in the wellbeing of the people. Wetlands are particularly important to tangata whenua for their biodiversity. In addition, Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi lament the cumulative loss of wetlands in Marlborough as a source of traditional food (such as, but not limited to, tuna) and believe that those wetlands that remain are so significant that they should be given absolute protection. To ensure the mauri of streams and rivers is maintained, Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi want to ensure that there are constant supplies of good quality water flowing into them. It is particularly important that rivers are managed to ensure there are enough floods and flows to maintain the opening of river mouths, especially at native fish spawning times. There is therefore an ongoing concern about the volume of water abstracted from surface water bodies, the diversion of these water bodies, the loss of vegetated riparian margins and any discharge of contaminants into fresh or coastal waters. Discharges of human sewage and stock effluent into water are a serious affront to the mauri of the water and Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi are unable to use water that is contaminated in this way. Water bodies are not the only component of the environment over which Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi have concern about mauri. Indigenous biodiversity on land is also part of the cultural landscape in Marlborough, even if the landscape has been much reduced as a result of forest clearance and the draining of wetlands. The traditional knowledge of tangata whenua in relation to biodiversity needs to be recognised. The loss of any further indigenous vegetation is a significant concern to Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi, both in terms of the loss of the plants (some of which are taonga) and the habitat they provide to other indigenous flora and fauna. Reflecting their holistic approach to the environment, Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi are also very conscious of the effect that land use activities have on other natural resources, particularly the runoff of contaminants into water and the potential for reduced water quality. Collectively, these losses of habitat and species as well as general degradation in resource quality has a cumulative effect on the mauri of natural resources. Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi believe that protecting the mauri of natural resources should be the overarching goal for all resource management planning and practices in Marlborough. To this end, there is a strong desire for Māori environmental practices, such as kaitiakitanga, to be recognised and implemented. In particular, Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi would like cultural indicators, 3 – 10