People who have applied to introduce hazardous substances or new organisms to New Zealand are required under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 to consider the risks and benefits their application may pose to Māori culture or our traditional relationships with our ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu, valued flora and fauna or other taonga.
To achieve this applicants are often required to consult with Māori at either a local or national level, depending on the nature of the application.
Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao is a statutory committee which advises the Authority on Māori issues. They provide reports to ERMA New Zealand on applications which raise significant issues or interests for Māori.
Kaupapa Kura Taiao is ERMA New Zealand's strategic Māori focus group. Contact us to find out more about our wānanga and hui with iwi/Māori. We can offer assistance to iwi/Māori who want to get involved in HSNO decision-making. Iwi/Māori can also become part of our Māori National Network.
There is mandatory Māori representation on Institutional Biological Safety Committees, committees to which ERMA New Zealand delegates some of its decision making.
We also have a range of resources and publications available, including policies and protocols affecting iwi/Māori under the HSNO Act.