Historical development and post-earthquake recovery of transport infrastructure in Indigenous landscapes: lessons from Kaikōura, Aotearoa New Zealand

Infrastructures are sociotechnical systems embodying societal structures. In states characterised by colonial settlement, Indigenous peoples have often not benefited from infrastructure development. Here we show how historical and modern coastal transport infrastructure development in Aotearoa New Zealand impacted Indigenous landscapes of a Māori subtribe in the Kaikōura region. Early twentieth century road and rail development, operationalised through legislative mechanisms, disturbed landscape features and sites of spiritual and historical importance, reflecting a general disregard in wider New Zealand society for Māori rights, concerns and values. Despite improvements in relationships between the state and Māori since the late twentieth century, encapsulated in environmental and cultural heritage legislation, legislative responses and infrastructure reinstatement following the 2016 Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquake again led to the disturbance of Indigenous landscapes; inadequate community engagement and oversight resulted in further modification and destruction of cultural sites. This case study illustrates how engineering practice and infrastructure development are mediated by state power and legislation. While the engineering profession is now better integrating Māori rights and concerns, and taking more responsibility for informed decision-making in ethically complex situations, how this may be operationalised after future disaster events for infrastructure recovery while minimising avoidable disturbance to Indigenous landscapes is still an open question.