Community psychology in aotearoa/New Zealand: Me tiro whakamuri a-kia-hangai whakamua

Abstract

Aotearoa New Zealand has been forged in the interaction between indigenous (Maori) and settler peoples within the context of colonisation and resistance. A treaty signed in 1840 continues to play a central, if contested, role in mediating a bicultural relationship. Community psychology concepts are reflective of Maori world views, which emphasise the interrelationship of people, land, sea, and the elements; the importance of placing people within their historical, social, and geographic context; and a strong preference for collectivist arrangements over individualism. Collectivist traditions can also be found within (mainly British) settler society. Within the academy, these local traditions have been attenuated by imported scholarship, primarily British and American. Feminist and culturally anchored critiques of mainstream psychology have been particularly influential, and, in recent years, Kaupapa Maori approaches to research and action. Values, especially social justice, collaboration, and diversity, are central to teaching and practice. Practitioners work in a wide range of settings and roles, mostly outside what is commonly regarded as the province of psychologists. They typically work at the macro and meso levels, fulfilling roles such as policy analyst, planner, health promoter, advocate, community developer, researcher, and evaluator. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.