Centre for Māori and Indigenous Goverance

The Māori and Indigenous Governance Research Centre will focus on research issues concerning Māori and Indigenous Peoples’ governance, rights and responsibilities. The centre will promote Indigenous worldviews and sound governance and development principles in order to build Indigenous capacity, facilitate Indigenous involvement in governance at all levels, and develop quality outcomes for Māori and Indigenous Peoples.

The Māori economy is an important part of the New Zealand economy and is set to grow further. In a post settlement environment, the resources of many Māori organisations will grow, which means that the capability of those organisations to achieve their social and economic objectives is becoming increasingly important. The multiple accountabilities of indigenous governors to their whanau members, beneficiaries and stakeholders make their governance challenges unique. Independent Research undertaken by Price Waterhouse Coopers has confirmed that Māori and Indigenous governance is a unique area of research, and that there is a vital link between improving good governance of Māori organisations and enhancing the economic and social contribution they can make to New Zealand. The PWC research also confirms that there is currently no central repository of models, ideas, lessons and stories about best practice kaupapa Māori governance. The best known example of a similar initiative overseas is the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development which has been successful as a result of the research and advisory projects it has generated and the valuable research into Indigenous development drivers. The University of Waikato can assist Māori organisations to improve the contributions they make to their own self-sufficiency as well as the overall New Zealand economy by helping to improve their governance practices.

For further information on the Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre, contact Renee Rewi, Administrator Manager, rrewi@waikato.ac.nz, 07 838 4466 ext 6727.