Doctoral Thesis

Hineani Melbourne (Ngāti Pōrou, Maniapoto), Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi

Since the inception of film to the present day in New Zealand Māori people, their language and customs have been recorded on film or other audio-visual mediums. In the eyes of the law the material recorded does not belong to the people who are sharing their knowledge, their customs and their language. This thesis investigates how Māori can reclaim the Intellectual Property Rights of their imagery and knowledge that has been recorded and how can present and future generations of these people protect and access this material.

May Jane McKenzie (Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou), Te ;Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi

Ka arotahi teneki tuhinga whakapae ki te whakawhanaketanga o nga rangatira o te hapii o Ngati Haka ki Tawhia o te iwi o Ngai Tiihoe. Kai te kitea te memehatanga o te pae karanga, o te pae korero, me te pae tioriori o te marae. Kotahi te patai mo teneki tuhinga - He aha te rangatira?

Abigail McClutchie (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou), The University of Auckland

This research explores ‘mahi rangatira’ as central to Māori entrepreneurship, innovation and risk. Māori have a long history of entrepreneurship indicated by their navigation of Te Moana nui ā Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean. Pere asserts that, “mahi rangatira is doing what is great for the whole; it is serving the people with no hierarchy” (Pere, 2016, April 29). In the context of this study, mahi rangatira is a process which embraces opportunity for entrepreneurial pursuits with the intent of collective well-being  and by its nature, exercising tino rangatiratanga .

This research explores how mahi rangatira was expressed in historical-entrepreneurial contexts and how it is enacted among kaupapa driven Māori entrepreneurs in a contemporary-entrepreneurial context. I explore mahi rangatira from a collective well-being perspective historically and how kaupapa driven Māori entrepreneurs engage with mahi rangatira from a contemporary perspective. Critically, this research seeks to study the processes, systems, and characteristics of the mahi (work practices/ activities) that constitute mahi rangatira as entrepreneurial pursuits. I interviewed 12 kaupapa driven entrepreneurs and will report my findings to them. I will also present at and design workshops for Māori business networks and tribal entities, groups as well as academic forums. 

Alehandrea Raiha Manuel (Ngāti Porou), The University of Auckland

Bonnie Maihi (Waikato Tanui, Ngāti Maniapoto), University of Waikato

Bobby Luke (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngaruahine, Taranaki Iwi Nui), Auckland University of Technology

This research explores the potential for interdisciplinary-based multimedia, performance, and Fashion design investigations to perform as knowledge repositories. The project aims to restore & revitalize understandings of a Taranaki cosmological worldview that can inform and enhance knowledge exchange through art and design research.

Moreover, an overview and role of ‘Rongo’ (cosmological deity representing the god of cultivation and peace) and how ‘Rongo’ as an entity can better enhance an understanding of creative design/art practices is explored. From this perspective, the project aims at providing Māori and non-­‐Māori appropriate ways of developing creative methods using holistic cultural frameworks. But more specifically, ‘Taku Taranakitanga’ becomes the overarching perspective of this project and aims to position this research from a Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui, Hāmua, Hāpotiki, and Taiporohenui Pā worldview.