Mātauranga Māori and the Patent Law System: Collision and Contest

Intern

Lewis Johnson, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Supervisors

Dr Jesse Pirini & Associate Professor Jessica Lai, Victoria University of Wellington

Overview

This internship project explored the collision and contestation between te ao Māori and the intellectual property (IP) system in relation to mātauranga Māori.

The project focused specifically on Rongoā Māori, using a theoretical lens to consider how it might be protected in the present day. As a form of mātauranga, the position of Rongoā Māori within the patent system remains ambiguous. The study therefore sought to deepen understanding of Rongoā Māori and its foundations, with the aim of envisioning and contributing to restorative and transformational outcomes rooted in Indigenous knowledge.

The work involved engaging with relevant knowledge holders and communities, alongside developing skills in searching the patent register and analysing patent data. The intern also examined how te ao Māori conceptualises and manages knowledge, in both comparison and contrast to the frameworks of the IP system.