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In recent years New Zealand has seen a sharp increase in Extractive Industry (oil, gas and mining) projects. The New Zealand government is strongly supportive of investment in the extractives sector and recently adopted a new code to manage industry in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone. 

At the same time, there have been high profile demonstrations against mining by environmental groups and iwi/hapū. It is clear, too, that some iwi have been working with industry, particularly in Taranaki. Others have sought a treaty interest in petroleum. 

The challenge for Māori carrying out development is to determine how to balance the drivers of a neo-liberal economic approach with the very ideals and principles that define us as Māori to ensure quality social and environmental outcomes for future generations. Through a previous NPM research project "Whakatipu rawa mā ngā uri whakatipu" the team has developed a prototype decision-making framework for collective assets, which takes into account well-being indices, tikanga Māori and financial measures.

The whakataukī - Ka tangi te pīpīwharauroa, ko te karere a Mahuru - speaks to how the pīpīwharauroa’s call signals that spring has commenced and also conveniently provides an analogy that seems appropriate to the current state of te reo Māori. 

It not only invites a consideration of the relationship between the pīpīwharauroa and Mahuru, but also for me, how the notion of ‘tangi’ might be thought to echo in the struggle for Māori language revitalisation.