On Wednesday 11th March, at an event celebrating the increasing influence of Indigenous scholarship in New Zealand, Te Hononga Pūkenga – The Māori & Indigenous Researcher Directory was launched by the Minister for Māori Development, Hon. Te Ururoa Flavell.
Te Hononga Pūkenga brings together into one online and interactive environment, the details of some of the nation’s leading Indigenous experts.
Over the past decade, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) - New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, has contributed greatly to the ongoing development and expansion of Māori and Indigenous scholarship not only in New Zealand, but around the world.
To date the collective efforts of NPM together with its partner institutions has supported the advancement of new Māori researchers and doctorates working across the academic spectrum, while also fostering a diverse range of research projects with leading Māori and Indigenous scholars and experts, that are making real change and impact on our society.
Together, these researchers form a knowledge base and expertise encompassing not only te ao Māori, but also subject areas as diverse as Agriculture, Architecture & Design, Biology and Biotechnology, Business & Economics, Education, Environment, Health, Law, Media & Communications – to name but a few. Essentially almost every facet of the research needs of the country, our communities and decision makers.
As this network has matured, NPM has identified a strong need to create an online resource which will connect these researchers not only with each other, but also with central and local government, private industry and media and of course with whānau, hapū and iwi throughout the country, who wish to access knowledge, or answers to key research questions.
NPM’s Research Director, Dr Dan Hikuroa says, “There is a wide range of very capable expert Māori researchers throughout the country. Many are working directly with their communities and most understand the context and requirements for Māori and therefore undertake research driven by the community’s needs and opportunities – with high Māori involvement, and utilising traditional knowledge, methodologies and approaches alongside other contemporary methods. These are the researchers Te Hononga Pūkenga connects and makes accessible to others, something which we feel will ultimately improve research, as well as policy and engagement with an array of individuals, communities and agencies”.
Te Hononga Pūkenga provides detailed information such as the academics and researchers expertise and research areas, projects they have worked on, their location and iwi, as well as a biography or CV and their contact details