Robert McClean

Robert McClean is researching methods of historic heritage identification and management that contribute to social, cultural, and environmental values.

Places are at the heart of society and Aotearoa is in the process of a fundamental shift towards a post-colonial and multicultural society where place, people and stories come together as heritage. Robert got a degree in Environmental and Resource Planning and a Masters in Historical Geography from Massey University. He ended up doing environmental history research at the Waitangi Tribunal and then later the NZ Historic Places Trust (now Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga). Lately he has been at the Ministry for the Environment working in environmental policy and implementation.

Robert’s Master’s thesis back in 1996 researched the alienation of the three Porirua reserves from 1846 to the present day. That was in 1996, when it was all about establishment (of the reserves) and land alienation. Now writing in the post-settlement era, it is a time of renewal and reconnection – a creative phase. He wants to research how historic heritage is identified (or can be identified) and managed in a way that contributes towards societal and environmental values of development, resilience and sustainability. A future focus. In particular, what is the role of heritage as part of the developmental frame of Māori land and land returned under Treaty settlement? Case studies will be focused in Porirua and Mana Island. Does there need to be a refined way of identifying heritage values? Especially on Māori land?  Sure, acknowledging the history of a place but also recognising places of importance to the future of tangata whenua? Having value as a place of community development, cultural dialogue, resilience and the Treaty partnership? Starting first to acknowledge that the land, te whenua, the place is the heritage.