The Māori Naming Project | Tapa Tapa Tū, Whakaea Kau Ana

Researchers: Dr Hēmi Whaanga, Tom Roa

Project Summary: For many years, the knowledge of indigenous peoples has been the preserve of western anthropologists and ethnographers. Like other indigenous peoples, Māori are concerned with the ongoing neglect, misuse and erosion of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). The aim of this research is to explore and record traditional classification systems of naming flora and fauna within Tainui-waka. The research also aims to investigate the relationship between indigenous taxonomy systems of Tainui-waka and the current Linnaean classification system in the appropriate naming of flora and fauna.

Keywords: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, taxonomy.