Recent graduate student research in Māori Geography
Our Programmes have a particular strength in Māori Geography and a fuller
listing of recent staff research and other outputs can be found on the Māori
and Indigenous Geographies homepage. Recent Māori Geography graduate student
research completed as part of the requirements of either BSocSc(Hons)
or Masters requirements is abstracted here.
Recent Graduate Directed Research
(GEOG590)
Wright, Don, 2000: Reconnecting Māori with the land: A Māori development
scheme case study in Kawhia.
Abstract:
Were land development schemes formed under Part XXIV of the Maori Affairs
Act 1953 another source of alienation of land from its Māori owners? If
so, how could reconnection with the land be brought about?
The Oparau No. 1 Māori land block near Kawhia had been beset with problems
from the moment the Department of Māori Affairs became its administrator.
Shareholder animosity toward the Crown increased because of problems like
poor decision-making, spiralling debt, and the Department's lack of consultation
with shareholders.
The research for this study was carried out under a conceptual framework
that validation Kaupapa Māori as a vehicle for research theory and Tikanga
Māori, research action. This methodology was used because it was considered
to be an appropriate acknowledgement of the cultural background of both
the interviewees and myself. The results of this research confirmed that
shareholders of Oparau No. 1 experienced a tremendous feeling of disconnection
from their ancestral land, hopelessness, loss of mana (pride) and whakama
(loss of standing and face).
Des Forges, Sandra, 2000: State-society synergy in action: Te Aria Toka
family service centre.
Abstract:
What are the keys to harnessing social capital to empower marginalised communities?
Experts in the development field, both internationally and in New Zealand,
have grappled 'top-down' initiatives have had limited success. New approaches
focusing on development from the 'bottom up' have been devised, although
these too are not always successful. This research focuses on Te Aria Toka,
a Family Service Centre established in Opotiki in 1993. The Centre provides
a useful example of how an initiative based on partnership between the
state and local people can work to empower a marginalised community. This
research shows that there are several key factors that are necessary for
that partnership to work successfully. The success of Te Aria Toka in meeting
local needs shows that the Family Service Centre model allows the necessary
components of a synergistic relationship to flourish, and it is therefore
an effective initiative to empower marginalised communities in New Zealand.
Kingi, Tracey, 1999: Globalisation and Iwi control: How has restructuring
impacted on Ngati Hikairo's assertion of mana whenua over Kawhia Moana
in relation to fisheries?
Abstract:
This research topic focused on the issue of control, by Ngati Kiikairo over
Kawhia Moana. Two perspectives were used in relation to defining who had
control. From a Māori perspective the concept of man whenua, and from a
western perspective, a globalisation mechanism.
Both concepts were defined within the context of this research. The research
involved interviews of Ngati Hiikairo people and ascertained whether or
not globalisation mechanism or Ngati Hiikairo mana whenua controlled Kawhia
Moana.
The findings from the interviews showed a variation from the respondents.
Assertion of mana whenua from a traditional perspective and applied through
tikanga Māori maintains Ngati Hiikairo mana whenua over their traditional
boundaries of Kawhia Moana. However, in the present community and local
government dealings, Ngati Hiikairo mana whenua had limited effect in the
decision making of Kawhia Moana. Though Ngati Kiikairo were asked to give
resource consents, and or informed about certain events, they have no political
or economic influence within the structure of local or national government.
Within this framework of policy and legislation a globalisation mechanism
identified in this report as the restructuring process, restrains Ngati
Hiikairo's mana whenu over Kawhia Moana. Many decisions affecting fisheries
and management of the coastal environment is carried out at the national
level.
Recent Masters theses
Kamau, Rawinia, 1999: Between two worlds: The implementation of geographic
information systems in local government with particular reference to the
provision of resource information to iwi.
Abstract:
There is a long history of imbalance of power between local government and
tangata whenua, with local government always the dominant partner. This
study proposes and investigates a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based
approach to addressing the imbalance between the two parties.
The Resource Management Act (1991) (referred to hereafter as the RMA)
requires local authorities to have regard to sites of significance to tangata
whenua. Using an Action Research approach, a case study is undertaken in
this study to explore the feasibility of a shared GIS application as part
of an information sharing approach to resource management. The case study
is centred in the Opotiki District Council (where the researcher was employed
in 1997 and 1998) and the iwi concerned was Whakatohea (an iwi which had
a previous history of working with the Council). The methods used in the
case study are consistent with the broad principles of Action Research,
and they draw on parallel approaches used in the discipline of information
systems and soft systems analysis. These methods provide a platform for
the development of the case study which focuses on the GIS-based application
to manage waahi tapu (sites of significance to Māori). Details of the proposal
are included: the project is to be sponsored by the Council, with the application
to be housed by iwi. Whakatohea are to retain control and management of
the information, with mechanisms to secure the information at a number
of levels.
The most significant finding of the study is clarification (amongst all
parties) of the ability of a GIS to store and use waahi tapu information
and allow the sharing of this information. Other major findings include
documentation of power imbalance between local government and tangata whenua
and the difference between Maori and local government cultures. The project
had to deal with a high level of scepticism about Council from iwi, and
the readiness of iwi to accept the GIS technology has been advanced but
it is still at the early stage. The substantive thesis project ends with
submission of a negotiated partnership proposal. The concluding Chapter
of the thesis goes beyond this point to suggest that interaction between
Opotiki District Council and Whakatohea should continue. It also argues
that other local authorities should follow a similar process and that the
GIS industry should welcome the broadening of the information base about
uses of contemporary GIS technologies in local authority resource management.
Porou, Tina, Tangi, Whaiora, 2000: Ngati Turangitukua and the Resource
Management Act.
Abstract:
This study focuses on Ngati Turangitukua, a hapu (sub-tribe) of the Ngati
Tuwharetoa Iwi (tribe), and their methods of resource management as kaitiaki
(resource management according to the tikanga and kawa of Ngati Turangitukua)
of the taonga (tangible and intangible treasures) in their rohe (tribal
boundaries). The hapu of Ngati Turangitukua and their environmental committee
have participated in this research including members of the Tuwharetoa
Māori Trust Board.
Ngati Turangitukua is situated in and around the Turangi township, which
is located near the southern shores of Lake Taupo in the central North
Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Ngati Turangituka have aspirations and responsibilities to exercise kaitiakitanga
and achieve tino rangatiratanga over the taonga within their rohe according
to their own tikanga and kawa. Through the exercise of kaitiakitanga, the
hapu requires the power to become decision-makers in regards to their taonga.
The Resource Management Act has substantial influence over the management
and control of Ngati Turangitukua taonga. The sections of the Resource
Management Act which are examined are the following, Section 6(e) regarding
the relationship of tangata whenua and their taonga, Section 7(a) regarding
the concept of kaitiakitanga, Section 8 regarding the Principles of the
Treaty of Waitangi, Section 33 regarding the transferral of powers from
local authorities to tangata whenua and Sections 62, 66 and 74 regarding
Iwi planning documents. These sections are assessed to see if they enable
and empower Ngati Turangitukua to exercise kaitiakitanga in a manner that
is consistent with Ngati Turangitukua and kawa.
Lancaster, Karyn, 2000: Managing consultation: A case study into experts'
approaches to consultation with tangata whenua.
Abstract:
This research involves an investigation into how expert consultants are arriving
at the tangata whenua viewpoint during consultation, as a part of the resource
consent process. Consultation guidelines proposed by relevant government
departments and case law were used to form a template by which the consultation
efforts of the experts were evaluated against. Theories of decision-making,
communicative action and progressive planning were used to assist in understanding
the process of consultation. A qualitative methodology employed the three
methods of documentary sources, interviews and text analysis to explore
the issues behind consultation with tanga whenua in relation to a case
study. The problem of the distortion and manipulation of information received
during consultation by the experts may be a result of power and political
influences within the decision-making organisation. In turn, the distortion
of this knowledge may be manipulating the planning process itself and could
be causing a misrepresentation of Māori concerns and interests with the
environment.
Hanson, Avril, Jane, 2000: The Marae tourism experience: A case study
of 'Rotoiti Tours'.
Abstract:
This thesis examines the guest experience of marae tourism and its correlation
with the host goals and objectives, through the case study of Rotoiti Tours.
The marae is the traditional meeting house of the Māori, the indigenous
people of New Zealand, and is the focus of government initiatives for potential
tourism development. The lack of research on the dynamics of marae tourism
leaves gaps in the investigation of the guest experience, which this thesis
addresses. The issues of marginalisation, authenticity, commoditisation
and acculturation are discussed and analysed in relation to indigenous
culture, Māori culture, and marae tourism. Indigenous tourism involves
issues of empowerment in the research process. Therefore, the researcher's
critique of position, identity, knowledge and limitations lead to the use
of kaupapa Māori and participatory appraisal methods, and the understanding
of the guest experience of Rotoiti Tours.
See Also:
Geography Research Pages
Graduate Studies in Geography
Māori and Indigenous Geographies
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