Whakapapa: Genealogical information seeking in an indigenous context

Abstract

This paper describes the information seeking behaviour of Māori secondary school students between 16–18 years of age when they searching for information about their whakapapa (genealogy). Rather than considering this form of information behaviour in the context of leisure time activity, the study positions itself as an important cultural expression of personal and collective identity. Like other studies involving youth, the research demonstrates the importance of inter-personal information seeking, particularly in Māori cultural settings.