Jan 30

Jan 30 THE IMPORTANCE OF LANDSCAPE

Many find discussions about landscape, and the intensity with which people react to changes proposed, hard to understand. They do not appreciate that landscape is a concept which people hold dearly, as part of who they are, where they were borne and now live. When changes occur or are proposed people often feel personally threatened. Landscapes, be they in any country, are not simply an object which may be bought and sold, diced and sliced.

We depend on our landscape in New Zealand for our economic survival, and well as our health, inspiration and way of life. The New Zealand landscape, including seascapes, air quality and climate effects provides for agricultural production, as well as vineyards, orchards, floriculture, forests and food.

Our identity is based on our landscapes. For Maori this is about whakapapa, location, and about memories; for those with a Western heritage, this is about place and who we are; for those with Eastern origins it can mean poetry, literature and many other things. We talk about where we live and play and landscapes generally have a pride of place in those discussions. Some talk is nostalgic such as the smell of bush, sparkling rivers or the countryside, although most of us now live in the city. We hope that others will keep those spaces which are part of our identity green and wholesome. We also hope that our cities and towns will have attractive and useful spaces for us to relax and enjoy a snack outside, to enable us to find our way, or for children to play.

While there are now many understandings of the broad term landscape, it has become clear that it is a cultural construct, a part of culture.

When the term landscape was adopted several hundred years ago in Europe, it referred to paintings of idyllic pastoral scenes. The term widened to refer to parks and scenery which was either in the countryside, or was created to replicate the scenes painters had portrayed. Later the term landscape was also used to mean a situation, ‘the landscape of business,’ as well as relationships, associations, experiences and perceptions, aspects of justice and culture. The European Landscape Convention made clear that the term landscape is about people as much as it is about an object, what is ‘out there,’ and the Convention, which has been ratified by over 30 countries, is about all landscapes: the vernacular as well as the special or natural landscapes, cultural landscapes and heritage landscapes. While there are now many understandings of the broad term landscape, it has become clear that it is a cultural construct, a part of culture. This means that it is fundamental to people and that different cultures understand open space and nature in different ways. Those with a Western derived culture understand the term landscape in a different way from Māori. Landscape planning, design and management decisions have generally, some would say almost exclusively, been based on Western values in New Zealand. Maori use different concepts and terms: diverse aspects are important, and those may vary by iwi and hapu. Providing a voice for those different values so that planning and design takes them into account and Māori are not alienated from their special places is important, and a part of aspects we intend to address in this Journal.

We New Zealanders depend on healthy and sustainable landscapes for consumer confidence in our agricultural exports, food and wine produced throughout New Zealand, as well as supplied to homes and local restaurants.

There are mountains, glaciers, unique wildlife, forests and beaches elsewhere in the world but New Zealand has all of this in close proximity, together with a low population, mild climate, and landscapes which, when compared with many other places, are relatively natural and unpolluted. Our air quality is high: the sky is clear, our seas blue. We are remote from the rest of the globe but depend on income from tourism. The tourists who pay substantially to reach our shores, come to experience our special landscapes and cultures, so evocatively portrayed by film makers Peter Jackson, Vincent Ward and Niki Caro. Younger tourists enjoy the recreational opportunities our diverse landscapes afford, as do local people: hiking, sailing, cycling.

The role of the Landscape Foundation is to enhance the understanding of the value of these landscapes so that we continue to have pride in what we enjoy, continue to reap economic benefit from our healthy and diverse landscapes, and the close relationship of people and landscape is better understood. The launch of a Journal is one means to do so. This is to be through articles on landscape and people related issues, which deserve better understanding as well as better recognition. In addition, we plan editorial commentary on articles which raise these issues.

The Journal is produced by independent Trustees of a charitable Foundation: Jan Woodhouse, Will Thresher, Sarah Collins, Diane Menzies and Mike Farrow. We have the support of an expanding Editorial panel. The Foundation also has a Patron, Thomas Woltz, and Ambassadors who have each made a contribution to the perception and management of New Zealand’s landscapes: Ans Westra, Kevin Prime, Shonagh Kenderdine, Frank Boffa, Bev McConnell, John Wills and Dame Anne Salmond.

The Landscape Foundation’s aim is to encourage dialogue, to seek in-depth discussion so that we New Zealanders are better able to consider the effects of change in our landscape and to communities. For instance, how can we create urban open spaces which respect Maori values as well as the values of others who are city residents. How can we recognise the diversity of rural residents’ values, those whose place of work is a farm, when energy or transportation needs appear to conflict with perceived values of peace, colour, tranquillity and space. How can we ensure that changes such as the development of new housing accounts for landscape qualities and peoples’ values. Such values are considered in Europe and other countries, the source of our tourism markets. How can we anticipate and take into account impacts on landscapes and biodiversity such as climate change, and conserve the coastal values, for instance, which New Zealanders understand as important.

Over a third of New Zealand residents live in Auckland. On the 175th Anniversary Day a flotilla of yachts sailed past the Auckland wharves, a view enjoyed by those on land on the harbour edges as much as those on the harbour. Residents were at the beach, enjoying the open and accessible spaces, playing games, enjoying icecreams in the sunshine, or just relaxing. The night before visitors and residents admired the sparkling fireworks display over the harbour. Both these events celebrated harbour, recreation, and fun: as well as aspects of our identity. The Auckland landscape: Rangitoto and maunga; the accessible harbour space, the cycle ways and suburbs rolling over the hills, are important parts of the landscapes we plan to discuss, as are those in Paihia, Southland, Taupo or Te Waipounamu. We look forward to contributions to this new Journal, which will initially be issued quarterly, from those whose interests address landscape, from those who have insights to share and ideas about how to better address changes in our landscapes, to those who suggest what we should be doing to achieve better outcomes for landscape and people. The Journal will either adopt articles already written, or seek contributions from respected authors, and offer editorial, perhaps opposing discussion, on people’s views and values. Let’s have your thoughts, ideas and suggestions so that we are all more knowledgeable and can manage New Zealand’s cultural landscapes more effectively.

Let’s have your thoughts, ideas and suggestions so that we are all more knowledgeable and can manage New Zealand’s cultural landscapes more effectively. email us