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A Kōrero with the Maunga: Understanding the significance of Whakapapa on Well-being.

21DSG03

Doctoral Thesis

Project commenced:

Chelsea Cunningham (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Kai Tahu), Univeristy of Otago

The whakapapa that defines my geographical and cultural centre is captured concisely in our pepeha; it represents how we position ourselves within this world, for myself, a descendant of Ngāti Kahungunu. 

The aim of this research is to reconnect to our pepeha by engaging with ancestral landscapes within Ngāti Kahungunu, retracing the footsteps of our tīpuna as told through pūrākau that have been passed down from generation to generation. Further to this, we will capture our engagement through the use of GoPro and drone technology to create short films for our whānau who are unable to physically engage with us, as a means to reconnect them through our experiences.

Research questions include:

  1. How do the three cultural imperatives—whakapapa, pūrākau, and ancestral landscapes—contribute to the philosophy of health and well-being for Māori?
  2. How can a (re)connection to the pūrākau and whakapapa of ancestral landscapes empower whānau?
  3. What role does the advancement of technology play in Te Ao Māori in connecting whānau and whakapapa?
  4. What are vital research methods to assess the use of digital technology in reconnecting whānau to pepeha and whakapapa?