Kawegapūrongo | News and Events

The questions through which Maori and non-Maori seek to understand our world differ as a consequence of differences in world view, language, origins, and experience of our separate and shared histories since arrival in New Zealand. Interactions of Maori and non-Maori with both research and education in science vary as a consequence.

 Drawing on the experience of Native nations in North America, this paper explores the ways that Indigenous peoples are reclaiming the right to govern themselves according to their own designs and putting those designs into practice by developing institutions that respond both to Indigenous cultures and to legal and political constraints.

 One role for research is to be used for social transformation in the interest of furthering social justice and human rights. If this is a role that is valued, then understanding beliefs that guide such research is critical. Professor Mertens will make a presentation about a set of beliefs that constitute the transformative paradigm of research.

The Honourable Dr Pita Sharples, Minister of Māori Affairs launched Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga’s new research initiative to discover the many diverse ways the Māori language adds value to society at Te Marae, Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington 8th of December.

This issue features a special section devoted to Community Research Engagement with a particular focus on exploring new methodologies for whānau (family) research. The collection of papers has been led by Dr Fiona Cram who joined our editorial team as a Guest Editor for this special section.

The section on Māori and Indigenous Poetry continues to develop momentum under the leadership of Dr Vaughan Rapatahana and Dr Helen Sword as editors. The poems in this issue draw attention to other ways in which we can consider the boundaries of enlightenment regarding Māori and Indigenous realities.

“The gathering was a landmark event as the first of its kind in the South Island and it showed the great increase of Mäori researchers and the breadth of areas they were involved in.”
-Dr Rāwiri Taonui, Head of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Canterbury

Twenty years ago there was only a handful of Māori researchers with PhDs in New Zealand. But you only needed to visit the Ngā Kete a Rēhua Inaugural Māori Research Symposium held at the University of Canterbury in September to see how much has changed.

"Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga's MAI Doctoral Support Programme was of incredible value, especially in connecting me with other PhD students for advice."