Matauranga Maori, tino rangatiratanga and the future of New Zealand science

Abstract

All peoples develop their own academic traditions: philosophies grounded in their experiences over successive generations, and theories for growing knowledge and wisdom. Ma¯tauranga Ma¯ori (ma¯tauranga) is the Indigenous knowledge system of these lands. It is dynamic, innovative and generative. The ma¯tauranga continuum is the knowledge accumulated through this system. Government policies and systems have marginalised ma¯tauranga and prioritised Western science, and the past 100 years have seen a slowing in the expansion of the ma¯tauranga continuum. Unless the survival of ma¯tauranga is prioritised, it will cease to flourish. Ma¯ori have discussed and written extensively about the ongoing impact of colonisation on ma¯tauranga and tikanga Ma¯ori. This paper builds on those discussions, arguing for tino rangatiratanga, including Ma¯ori ownership of ma¯tauranga, fulfilment of the government's obligations to Ma¯ori, and the reinstitution of ma¯tauranga as a primary knowledge system in Aotearoa. It explains why ma¯tauranga revitalisation is important and outlines some of the steps towards this goal. We are calling for Western academics to support ma¯tauranga revitalisation, with the vision of two functional knowledge systems operating that are unique to New Zealand.