Early Māori expressed their culture and whakapapa in the natural environment. This included the meaning and significance of cultural practices, physical landscapes and their wāhi tapu.
This continues with all people of New Zealand.
In our own ways we all value and enjoy the natural environment. We must therefore all engage in its protection and conservation and act as stewards of the natural environment. It also means we have to ensure our many interactions with the natural environment are sustainable.
As the impacts of climate change become clearer, this will become more and more important.
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