Guardianship is something that is anchored very deeply in the Māori culture, it’s called Kaitiakitanga. The meaning of ‘tiaki’ is to guard, but depending on the context in which it is used, it also means to preserve, keep, conserve, nurture, protect and watch over.
It’s based on traditional Māori world views and includes the conservation and sustainability of the environment. It is about safeguarding the future.
In te ao Māori, to understand the world, humans must understand relationships between themselves and the environment in which they live.