Designing future productive landscapes in the Mackenzie Basin

Abstract

The Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand, exhibits landscape social and biophysical conflicts and pressure typical of multi-use landscapes throughout New Zealand and worldwide. In response to these landscape conflicts, the community defined a vision for the Mackenzie Basin through the Mackenzie Agreement. This research uses Design Directed Research to investigate the potential for ‘human scale’ concepts to assist Mackenzie Basin stakeholders in achieving this vision. Three ‘values’ were identified in the Mackenzie Basin. The first was the dissonance between the picturesque precedents of New Zealand reserve areas, and the Mackenzie landscape. The second was the additional conflicts introduced through technology advancements enabling pivot irrigation in the Mackenzie Basin, and the resulting landscape change. The third value was the relationship between these landscape qualities and the community identity of the region. The question asked in this research was: Is it possible to develop a structured mix of compelling multifunctional landscape visions for the Mackenzie Basin? Through the research, two supporting questions were identified and investigated: What is the potential for levels and layers of conservation and production values through all landscapes? and; What are the opportunities afforded by removing the landscape condition as the deciding factor for an action? In response to the existing production bias in the Mackenzie Basin, all concepts were generated to include a restoration type, through use of a matrix. These concepts were then applied to different landscape conditions as a means to identify ways to reduce the perceptions surrounding ecologically valuable (therefore unproductive) or totally degraded (therefore of low conservation potential) land. The restoration type that proved of the highest value in combining conservation and production was ‘Reinvent’, as it allowed the higher integration of conservation and production values. Six groups were generated, these were: layering up topography, patches and connections, cycling production, staged revegetation, layered riparian, and pest management from landmark. These groups and concepts add to the ‘library of ideas’ available for stakeholders in the Mackenzie Basin. The successful interpretation and application of the groups and concepts generated through this thesis offers tangible pathways that could assist in shaping a landscape where different layers and levels of conservation and production interact and achieve the vision outlined in the Mackenzie Agreement.