PhD Candidate: Stacey Ruru (Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Raukawa)
Primary Supervisor(s): Professor Chellie Spiller
Throughout Aotearoa there are examples of wahine rangatira in business, non-government organisations and government organisations who contribute to their whānau, iwi and hapū in governance. This project will investigate the experiences and mentorship of wāhine rangatira in New Zealand governance. The aims of the project are twofold:
1) contribute to a psychological theory, particularly Organisational Psychology, of Māori women leadership that is from a mana wāhine perspective and,
2) conceptualise a mentoring model of leadership and governance that is by wāhine for wāhine.
In response to an observed absence in these areas my research will be grounded in kaupapa Māori and mana wāhine theory. Narratives of wahine rangatira will be gathered using qualitative semi-structured interviews and photo-elicitation methods. Through this project I want to privilege wāhine perspectives in areas that are primarily considered the domain of men in order to contribute to Māori women leadership and mentorship.