As part of the next iteration of our Green Star tool, Green Star Buildings for New Zealand, we have developed the Tohu Mauri Ora Credit.
Our vision is for all homes and buildings in Aotearoa to be green and sustainable, making healthier, happier New Zealanders. To achieve this, we run trusted and robust third-party certification schemes that have been developed alongside industry. These include Green Star for non-residential buildings and communities, Homestar for new residential development, and HomeFit to assess the health of existing homes.
We regularly review and update these tools to keep up with global sustainability trends and industry knowledge. Green Star Buildings for New Zealand sets a new benchmark for sustainability.
This process of developing Green Star Buildings began in 2022, when we invited input from the construction and property sector and others across Aotearoa on how to improve the sustainability and health of our buildings through Green Star. There were two significant rounds of consultation, including hui around the motu, one-to-one meetings, surveys, advisory meetings and expert review panels.
We also established a Māori Technical Working Group to integrate Mātauranga Māori into Green Star Buildings for New Zealand. The group included:
- Tyrone Newson, Director Te Kuaka, Chief Executive Officer at Ngāti Awa Group Holdings
- Anahera Rawiri, Principal – Kaihautū at Jasmax, Auckland City Council Advisory Board Member, Member at Te Kāhui Rangahau o Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Member at Property Council NZ, Auckland Executive Branch, Board Member at Waitematā Local Board, Auckland Council
- Jade Kake, Director at Matakohe Architecture + Urbanism, Senior Lecturer at AUT Huri Te Ao School of Future Environments
- Ngata Tapsell, Principal at Beca, Chair of Te Arawa Management Limited, Chair of Pukaingataru B18, Chair and Panellist of the Auckland Urban Design Panel, Panellist of the Tauranga Urban Design Panel, Advisor to Huri Te Ao, Auckland University of Technology
- Lucy Tukua, Kaihautū Whakarito (Technical Director Regenerative Outcomes) at Mott MacDonald; Board member for Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust, Hauraki Māori Trust Board and Auckland Light Rail Ltd
- Amanda Yates, Associate Professor at AUT and Director of ORA, regenerative action-lab
- Pierre Tohe, General Manager Engagement at Tainui Group Holdings
- Mike Conlon, Head of Project Delivery at Tainui Group Holdings
- Samantha McGavock, Kaihautū, Director at DONE Project Planning + Delivery.
Extensive kōrero and hui between the Māori Technical Working Group and the NZGBC culminated in the Tohu Mauri Ora credit.
The Māori Technical Working Group identified synergies with all credits within the existing Green Star Buildings for New Zealand framework that align with Mātauranga Māori. We encourage iwi working with developers to strive for these credits.
In particular the working group identified strong synergies with the following credits:
- Responsible Procurement
- Connection To Nature
- Community Resilience
- Water Use
- Enjoyable Places
- Contribution To Place
- Culture, Heritage, And Identity
- Procurement And Workforce Inclusion
- Impacts To Nature
- Biodiversity Enhancement
- Nature Connectivity
- Nature Stewardship
- Waterway Protection
The Tohu Mauri Ora credit is a significant step in our journey to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi as an organisation. We extend a massive kia ora to the Māori Technical Working Group for their time, wisdom, collaboration and guidance.
We have continued to work with this group and after consulting with them have determined the Tohu Mauri Ora credit can be used as an Innovation Challenge with the Green Star Communities and Homestar rating tools.
We look forward to continuing our work with them as we update further tools to encompass Mātauranga Māori.
