Hokia ki te whenua; returning to the land

This thesis produces a distinctive model for the sustainable horticultural development of Māori resources, primarily land. It is inclusive of Māori and indigenous production systems based on their unique body of cultural knowledge. The integration of this knowledge with western science is argued and applied through the model itself. The hypothesis applied is that Māori knowledge relevant to horticulture and pedology or soils can inform and add value to the future development of Māori land resources. The model is built on a unique set of contributing knowledge bases aligned to soils and horticultural management supported by three case studies. The indigenous element, including Māori knowledge, is incorporated into the model using a triadic kosmos/corpus/praxis approach. The ability to apply a cultural approach to land assessment is the key point of difference and the model is discussed from the perspective of its beneficial role for future use by Māori as an indigenous culture. Ultimately the major benefit of this approach will be its tranferability across cultures and landforms and its ability to respond to dynamic factors as appropriate.