Our environment and tāngata (people) are one and the same

 

*The views expressed by this Rangatahi member are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the organisation(s) they represent.

 

Temuera Hall, ASB, RAP Perspective

Fresh into the workforce from graduation, Temuera Hall is a new member of the Circle’s Rangatahi Advisory Panel (RAP) through his role with our Leading Partner, ASB. Both roles were clearly meant to be. In this perspective, he shares his love of our beautiful country and the importance of changing our behaviours and beliefs for better environmental and economic outcomes.

The opportunity to apply for RAP came up on our internal hub with ASB looking for rangatahi Māori to participate in the Circle. I didn’t know what it was at the time. It wasn’t until I read into it that I learned it’s all about restoring and looking after our taonga - supporting our environment and our economy. That is a big part of who I am. For me, our taiao (environment) and tāngata (people) are one and the same; one can't exist without the other.

So, having the opportunity to support the Circle and other partners as a Rangatahi was a no-brainer for me. I wanted to put myself forward for this initiative as the representative for ASB – and be a voice for Papatūānuku (Earth Mother) and future generations.

My generation strongly values the wellbeing of our environment and being able to advocate to a wider audience that could be central to many decisions is a priority for me.

Māori view our environment as a big brother – our Tuakana - which means it inherently deserves our respect, and we are its Teina – younger sibling. If we respect our environment, it will respect us. We’ll be better looked after in terms of the food we produce, our air quality, the trees that grow, but the opposite is also true. If we disrespect that relationship, then our environment and our waterways won’t be able to support us.

I was fortunate to grow up against the backdrop of one of Aotearoa’s most beautiful places – Taupō-nui-a-Tia. Our fun was outside in nature. We would go hiking in the forest and pretend we were in the army by making bivouacs and playing with sticks. Going to our waterways, our moana and rivers, was what we did every day during summer. 

The relationship that we have with our environment here in New Zealand is unique; it's very connected. You go to the river, you fish for trout and you eat it. That experience connects you physically and spiritually to the awa – river. I think that’s why visitors love New Zealanders - because we’re grounded and connected to our environment.  

However, we need to do more to protect it and that means reframing our environment as a living resource. That’s why the Circle is so great. It’s an organisation that can encourage businesses to appreciate that our environment is not unlimited natural capital - it's something we need to nurture and protect if we want to grow our economy.

Small behavioural changes also help. If we put nature at the forefront of our minds when making everyday decisions, we’d all be better off. For example, taking care of our waste responsibly, limiting our consumption of plastic and other non-biodegradable products, and opting for more natural alternatives. Even in the food we eat, choosing to eat fresh produce instead of heavily processed foods means we’re not investing in the emissions it takes to produce and package those foods.

I realise now that my Pāpā was my inspiration in this space. He runs an indigenous ethical sustainable investment fund and has a deep understanding of the world around us and our place in it. He’s taught me everything I know and instilled this passion I have for the environment. My Pāpā used to drag me and my siblings out for walks up the mountains and through forests. Back then, I didn't know how to appreciate it, but now, after understanding how important our natural surroundings are to our survival and prosperity, merely having an appreciation of our environment is not enough. We must actively engage, protect, and empower our natural environment so that our kids and our kid’s kids can continue to experience and embrace its beauty, its care, and the life that it gives us. I am proud to be working with the Circle to protect and restore our Taonga.