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Pricing Whenua Māori: Carbon Markets, Colonial Continuities, and Indigenous Self Determination in Aotearoa New Zealand

McCaa, Linnea Jean LU (2026) SGED10 20261
Human Geography
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
This study investigates the extent to which the institutional and policy frameworks of New Zealand's carbon markets support or constrain Māori self-determination. Drawing on decolonial theory, political ecology, and critical discourse analysis, and oriented by Kaupapa Māori research principles, it examines how Māori values and development goals are reflected within the structure of the national Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and voluntary carbon market. Through documentary analysis of policy and legislative texts, Waitangi Tribunal submissions, consultation documents, and project-level records, the study identifies a consistent gap between the formal commitments made to Māori within carbon market governance and the reality of Māori... (More)
This study investigates the extent to which the institutional and policy frameworks of New Zealand's carbon markets support or constrain Māori self-determination. Drawing on decolonial theory, political ecology, and critical discourse analysis, and oriented by Kaupapa Māori research principles, it examines how Māori values and development goals are reflected within the structure of the national Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and voluntary carbon market. Through documentary analysis of policy and legislative texts, Waitangi Tribunal submissions, consultation documents, and project-level records, the study identifies a consistent gap between the formal commitments made to Māori within carbon market governance and the reality of Māori participation in practice. Findings suggest that while carbon market participation generates tangible material benefits for some Māori collective organisations, the commercial logic of the ETS structurally prioritises fast-sequestering exotic forestry over the native forest restoration and intergenerational land stewardship that Māori most consistently articulate as development priorities. Consultation of Māori in emissions policy has been experienced as procedural rather than substantive, and Māori identity has in some cases been instrumentalised as a reputational asset without genuine partnership. The study concludes that the current design of New Zealand's carbon markets risks reproducing colonial patterns of land-use constraint and institutional exclusion under an environmental label, and that meaningful support for Māori self-determination would require a fundamental reorientation of carbon market governance toward rights-based frameworks that centre tino rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga. (Less)
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author
McCaa, Linnea Jean LU
supervisor
organization
course
SGED10 20261
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Indigenous self-determination, carbon markets, carbon colonialism, greenwashing, kaitiakitanga, environmental governance, FPIC, Māori land-use
language
English
id
9232564
date added to LUP
2026-06-15 11:34:57
date last changed
2026-06-15 11:34:57
@misc{9232564,
  abstract     = {{This study investigates the extent to which the institutional and policy frameworks of New Zealand's carbon markets support or constrain Māori self-determination. Drawing on decolonial theory, political ecology, and critical discourse analysis, and oriented by Kaupapa Māori research principles, it examines how Māori values and development goals are reflected within the structure of the national Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and voluntary carbon market. Through documentary analysis of policy and legislative texts, Waitangi Tribunal submissions, consultation documents, and project-level records, the study identifies a consistent gap between the formal commitments made to Māori within carbon market governance and the reality of Māori participation in practice. Findings suggest that while carbon market participation generates tangible material benefits for some Māori collective organisations, the commercial logic of the ETS structurally prioritises fast-sequestering exotic forestry over the native forest restoration and intergenerational land stewardship that Māori most consistently articulate as development priorities. Consultation of Māori in emissions policy has been experienced as procedural rather than substantive, and Māori identity has in some cases been instrumentalised as a reputational asset without genuine partnership. The study concludes that the current design of New Zealand's carbon markets risks reproducing colonial patterns of land-use constraint and institutional exclusion under an environmental label, and that meaningful support for Māori self-determination would require a fundamental reorientation of carbon market governance toward rights-based frameworks that centre tino rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga.}},
  author       = {{McCaa, Linnea Jean}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Pricing Whenua Māori: Carbon Markets, Colonial Continuities, and Indigenous Self Determination in Aotearoa New Zealand}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}