Siani Walker leads the Māori Advisory services and brings a strong focus on the integration of Māori principles and practices into resource management planning, utilising her knowledge, skills and experiences. In particular, supporting and being guided by iwi/hapū to lay foundations to provide tangible benefits to iwi/hapū now, and for future generations to come. This includes navigating Council or Government agency systems and processes to incorporate and build understanding of Māori values, together with building meaningful relationships between iwi/hapū governance and kaitiaki in order to achieve inclusive outcomes for iwi/hapū/whānau, and generally for the wider community.
As an accredited and experienced RMA Hearings Commissioner, Siani works throughout Aotearoa, and is sought after for her experience integrating Māori values, policy and cultural heritage matters into the decision making process.
Recent experience includes the water take and discharge consents for the AFFCO plant at Rangiriri, Te Puke, and a new marina at Opotiki. Siani is currently appointed as an Independent Commissioner for Auckland Council, and the Far North District Council for the Proposed District Plan hearings.
Key Person: Siani Walker
.jpg)
2022 Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara
Provision of Planning advice, Resource Consent Hearing support and Environment Court Appeal s274 Party processes for Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Development Operations team regarding the resource consent development to construct, operate and maintenance of a golf course, sports academy and luxury accommodation complex on the Muriwai Downs property. This involved: advice in respect of the hearing process; coordination and preparing of evidence; consultation with the Applicant; and mediation.
Our involvement was to assist Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Operations team to ensure the project outcome and mediation discussions fulfilled iwi responsibilities in respect of their kaitiakitanga as mana whenua.
Key Person: Siani Waker
Prepare the scope for, and develop with hapū Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust and Council, a pilot project and processes to inform the delivery of a co-designed te ao Māori methodology for the protection and management of tangata whenua sites of significance, to support and integrate kaitiakitanga and tangata whenua values which adhere to responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support Māori led solutions to deliver Māori outcomes.
Key persons: Siani Walker
A collaboration between Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau, Piritahi, and Bentley & Co to develop and deliver an engagement framework (Te Haumi) to establish principles for engagement and working practices between Piritahi and Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau for works undertaken for the Kāinga Ora Auckland Housing Programme.
The framework is an internal document for Piritahi which puts in place systems and processes, and practices to support obligations within the Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities legislation and Strategies to ensure that in carrying out urban development functions, Kāinga Ora and Piritahi have the capability and capacity to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles; engage with Mana Whenua, understand perspectives of Māori; and enable partnering and early meaningful engagement with Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau.
Key contact: Siani Walker
As part of the role Kāinga Ora have in the Government MAIHI Partnerships Programme, Bentley & Co have been responsible for providing planning advice for opportunities for iwi/hapū (such as papakāinga) on Māori freehold land across Aotearoa, and opportunities to partner with Kāinga Ora.
Bentley & Co undertook a review of vision and strategies for iwi/hapū, concept plans, and the relevant Regional and District Plans to advise on the provisions that apply to Māori land blocks so as to identify and outline the development opportunities for papakāinga development, transitional housing, or other development options to support cultural, environmental, social, and economic outcomes for iwi/hapū.
Key persons: Siani Walker and Matt Round
