18th Jun 2024 Gemini 1.5 Pro
Jan Hania's life has been deeply intertwined with both the natural world and the realm of technology. From a young age, growing up near Manukau Harbour, nature was his playground, shaping his understanding of interconnectedness.
"Our whole life regulated around what the tide was doing. As a child, you know, once a month we would go and gather scallops from a particular muddy beach flat when the tide was in a king tide cycle."
His father, a Dutch immigrant with an engineering background, instilled in him a fascination with how things worked. This led Jan to a career path that combined these interests, starting with a trade as a linesman and later, service in the New Zealand Air Force as an avionics technician. However, his true calling emerged during his time in the military. Leading mountaineering and outdoor leadership training, he witnessed the restorative power of nature. This realization, coupled with a profound spiritual experience while climbing, set him on a new course: to dedicate his life to the well-being of the environment.
Driven by this newfound purpose, Jan pursued a degree in natural resources engineering. His studies introduced him to Māori cosmology and the teachings of Keith Morrison, which emphasized human ecology and challenged conventional approaches to environmental management. These experiences sparked a deep appreciation for indigenous knowledge systems and their relevance in addressing environmental challenges.
"The two subjects that really resonated strongly for me and captured me and have stayed with me ever since, Māori cosmology, indigenous lens into the deep mātauranga, the deep knowledge of Māori, you know, knowledge systems and reverence of gods and creation stories and all that and all those things."
This newfound perspective influenced his subsequent career in various roles within local government and the Department of Conservation (DOC). He recognized the limitations of focusing solely on technical solutions and the importance of incorporating Māori values and aspirations in environmental management.
Jan's work in Hawke's Bay brought him into contact with philanthropy, an experience that highlighted the potential of collaborative approaches to conservation. Working alongside iwi, local communities, and organizations like the Aotearoa Foundation, he witnessed how diverse stakeholders could unite around a shared vision for ecological restoration.
"When Next and Doc and Iwi started getting together around the same table, could we do a demonstration project of if you combined all these things, business, philanthropy, community, Iwi, could we restore the ecology of this mountain was the kind of the primary question at the time when we started."
This experience laid the groundwork for his involvement in the ambitious Taranaki Mounga project. The project, a partnership between DOC, iwi, the Next Foundation, and other stakeholders, sought to reverse biodiversity decline on Mount Taranaki. Central to its success was the recognition that ecological restoration extended beyond technical interventions. It required genuine collaboration, respect for Māori cosmology, and the reconnection of people to the land.
The Taranaki Mounga project became a catalyst for a groundbreaking legal framework: recognizing the mountain as a legal person. This designation, informed by Māori cosmology, challenged the traditional Western view of nature as property.
"And the construct of the board, which will govern the planning and allocation of resources and frameworks, has definite responsibilities rather than rights, has specific responsibilities to restore the mountain and the mana of the mountain and to restore the connection of people to it and to each other in doing so."
It acknowledged the interconnectedness of all beings and emphasized human responsibility to protect and restore the mana (prestige, power, respect) of the mountain. This landmark achievement has paved the way for similar initiatives across Aotearoa, granting legal personhood to the Whanganui River and Te Urewera. These cases reflect a growing global movement to recognize the Rights of Nature and shift from a paradigm of exploitation to one of guardianship.
While legal frameworks are crucial, Jan emphasizes that true transformation requires a deeper shift in mindset. It necessitates embracing values of respect, reciprocity, and humility towards nature. He believes this transformation begins at the individual level, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and recognizing our role as part of a larger web of life.
"It's not held in secrecy. It's held in trust. And I think those trust layers need to be built solidly first."
Jan advocates for building trust across diverse stakeholder groups, recognizing that each brings valuable knowledge and perspectives. This collaborative approach, grounded in indigenous wisdom and a commitment to the collective good, offers a pathway towards a more equitable and regenerative future. The Taranaki Mounga project serves as a powerful example of what's possible when diverse stakeholders come together, united by a shared vision and a deep respect for the interconnectedness of all life.
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