"A major re-think of the science-policy interface is needed to reflect te ao Māori perspectives, aspirations, and priorities."

Join some of the authors of a new report that argues for a Te Tiriti-led science-policy approach for Aotearoa, and find out why this kaupapa is so important for Aotearoa. "Te Pūtahitanga" is due to be published 28-April 2021

TE PŪTAHITANGA

This paper examines the interface between science and policymaking and calls for a policy approach that is enabled by, and responsive to, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Mātauranga Māori. For a science sector to have its greatest reach and impact for all citizens, it must demonstrate relevance, accessibility and inclusion. In Aotearoa, there has been concern about the exclusion of Māori and Pacific expertise from science advice and key decision-making roles. Te Tiriti offers a powerful framework for connecting systems and communities of knowledge in ways that are mutually beneficial and future focused. Authors Tahu Kukutai, Tracey McIntosh, Amohia Boulton, Meihana Durie, Meika Foster, Jessica Hutchings, Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, Helen Moewaka Barnes, Te Taiawatea Moko-Mead, Sarah-Jane Paine, Suzanne Pitama, and Jacinta Ruru

Webinar Q&As 

I do have a question for the Panel: How do you define, recognize, and manage conflicts of interest?

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt ""Tried to answer this during webinar – I hate the ‘conflicts of interest’ korero because I think it's been weaponised against Māori. Kevin Prime pushes back on this noting it's not a Māori concept.""

There is now a requirement that teachers at all levels of education should use Te Reo in classes every day (and according to RNZ story on link this is being followed up). It would be great if this included all science classes. Are there resources being developed to enable science in Te Reo and mātauranga Māori to be taught at all levels too? If not who should do this? https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/441360/council-taking-more-rigorous-...

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt  ""Can’t help sorry.""

Awesome korero thank you! How do you balance being frustrated at the system and deep-set colonised ways, but knowing when to pick your battles and work in constructive ways for Maori within our limited time and energy, without ending up with burnout!?

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt  ""Learning to pick my battles is something that has taken years to learn and perfect. I’ve now come to the conclusion that I can assess issues fairly rapidly against some crude criteria like: 1) Does this issue adversely impact a Māori community, group or individual? 2) Will this issue change the system? 3) Will this issue make the world a tiny bit better? 4) Do I really care about the outcome? Being clear in my mind about ‘whether or not I really care’ about an issue means that I am less frustrated. Working in constructive ways is a fine balance between doing what is right and doing what is expected. I don’t like being told I’m ‘not constructive’ just because I challenge the system or people in it. Those kinds of ‘push backs’ from the system are racist.""

Can innovation at a small scale led by single iwi be upscaled to a pan-iwi level (or is the ideal in fact best kept small?)? And if achievable at a pan-iwi level, how? And can you give any examples Melanie Mark-Shadbolt  ""Yes"" The Wai 262 report was also important. Were there recommendations from that document that might be relevant to this korero? Views on wai 262 report generally?

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt  ""Yes – Mātauranga Commission. The Crowns Wai262 response is a disappointment."" While this will take a radical shift at a macro level,  what micro actions can we make to progress the movement in our relative areas of mahi? Melanie Mark-Shadbolt  ""Share power, share information, encourage people in your organisation to get educated""

I am working for one of the CRI's as a kaitiaki of taonga plant collections. The interaction and work with Māori and the community is awesome. However, I really struggle with the language and reporting to higher levels. I feel somehow powerless in showing the importance of the plant collections, the interaction with tangata whenua as I cannot communicate in the high level language and to be honest, I do not think we need to use a language that only a few understand. Any suggestions?< Melanie Mark-Shadbolt  ""Call Te Tira Whakamātaki and we’d love to chat."" we've been asked if research about Māori should only ever be done by Māori, or if non-Māori researchers can do it, with adequate cultural supervision, and prior consultation with Māori?

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt  ""While technically research about Māori can be done by anyone, whether it should be done by anyone is the bigger question. The other question for me is should non-Māori be funded to do Māori research, especially from buckets of research investments tagged for Māori? I do have concerns that increasingly Vision Mātauranga funds are going to non-Māori, and that non-Māori are securing Endeavour funds to do work that should be lead by Māori. I’m also worried Māori research entities are struggling to secure RSI funds. So the question is much larger than ‘should non-Māori research Māori’, the bigger question is ‘what is the wider impact of non-Māori researching Māori’?""

THE PANELISTS

Tracey McIntosh MNZM (Tūhoe) is a Professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Auckland and Co-Head of Wānanga o Waipapa (The School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies). She is the Chief Science Advisor to the Ministry of Social Development, and a Commissioner of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. She was previously Director and Co-Director of New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (2007-2010, 2014-2017). Her recent research focuses on incarceration (particularly of Indigenous peoples), social harm minimisation, inequality and justice.

Jessica Hutchings (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Huirapa, Gujarati) is a senior kaupapa Māori researcher and research leader. Jessica has held senior management and leadership roles in the Māori science and research sectors. She is a member of the MBIE Science Board, is the Chair of the Rauika Māngai - a cross National Science Challenge Māori Leadership group, a Trustee of the Pohoro STEM Academy and Governance member of the Resilience to Nature's Challenge - National Science Challenge. She is also a widely published author, including recent books, Te Mahi Onoeone Hua Parakore: A Māori Soil Sovereignty and Wellbeing Handbook (Freerange Press 2020). Her books Te Mahi Māra Hua Parakore: A Māori Food Sovereignty Handbook (Te Tākupu, 2015) and Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education, Research and Practice with Jenny Lee-Morgan (NZCER Press, 2016) were both winners of the Kōrero Pono, Ngā Kupu Ora Aotearoa Book Awards. 

Amohia Boulton  (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Mutunga and Te Āti Awa ki te Waka a Māui), is the Director of Whakauae Research Services, an Iwi-owned and mandated health research centre in Whanganui, New Zealand. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Health Services Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington and in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Amohia holds a number of governance positions including membership of the Healthier Lives, He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge Governance Group Kahui Māori and she is the Lead Whānau Ora Technical Advisor to the National Iwi Chairs Forum. As a health services researcher with some twenty years experience, Amohia’s research interests focus primarily on the relationship between, and contribution of, government policy, contracting mechanisms, and accountability frameworks to improving health outcomes for Māori. Recent publications have explored issues as diverse as research ethics, the place of Māori approaches to wellbeing (whānau ora) and Rongoā Māori (traditional healing) in the publicly-funded health system, and colonisation, care, and justice.

Tahu Kukutai (Ngāti Tiipa, Ngāti Kinohaku, Te Aupōuri) is incoming Co-Director of Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga and is Professor of Demography at the National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis, The University of Waikato. Tahu specialises in Māori and indigenous demographic research and has written extensively on issues of Māori population change, official statistics, Indigenous data sovereignty, and ethnic classification. Tahu is a founding member of the Māori Data Sovereignty Network Te Mana Raraunga and the Global Indigenous Data Alliance. She co-edited Indigenous data sovereignty: Toward an agenda (ANU Press, 2016) and Indigenous data sovereignty and policy (Routledge, 2020). Tahu has undertaken research for numerous iwi, Māori communities, and Government agencies, and provided strategic advice across a range of sectors. She is a member of the Chief Science Advisor Forum and a technical advisor to the Data Iwi Leadership Group of the Iwi Chairs Forum.

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Te Atiawa, is an indigenous environmental advocate who is a co-founder and the CEO of Te Tira Whakamātaki, a Māori environmental not-for-profit and home of the Māori biosecurity network. She is also the Kaihautū Ngātahi Director Māori of New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge and Deputy Secretary Māori at the Ministry for the Environment. Melanie specialises in understanding and applying mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) to biosecurity and biodiversity issues. She has a specific interest in decolonising ideologies of conservation and restoration in order to address injustices and harm caused to indigenous peoples and our planet. Her work has covered research in stakeholder values, attitudes and behaviours; social acceptability of management practices and risk communication; and the wider human dimensions of environmental health.  Shortlisted as a finalist of the Westpac Women of Influence awards in 2019, Melanie currently serves on a number of governance and advisory bodies including the boards of Project Crimson, and B3 Better Border Biosecurity Collaboration Council, the Kauri Dieback & Myrtle Rust Strategic Science Advisory Group (SSAG), and Wallaby eradication governance group.   She is committed to working with organisations who are committed to meeting their Treaty responsibilities and addressing indigenous rights.