Planning and indigenous people - Human rights and environmental protection in New Zealand

This study examined the influence of a national planning mandate to redress human rights violations of the indigenous people of New Zealand. The mandate requires local governments to prepare environmental plans, achieve national goals, and support participation of indigenous people. A sample of thirty-four local governments was evaluated to determine how well local plans support indigenous rights and to examine the influence of factors that influence local plan support. Findings indicate that plans scored moderate to low in support of indigenous rights. In addition, indicators of citizen participation, quality of regional plans, and local organizational capability to plan had a positive influence on local plan support for indigenous rights.