E ngā rangatira o te whare o Whakauae, ānei rā āku mihi ki a koutou i riro te karahipi “Kia Rite 2022” ki ahau i tēnei tau. I've learnt many new skills and have developed a deeper understanding and interest for Kaupapa Māori Research during my time here.
Having come from a Biomedical Science background (aka. Western-quantitative research) I felt as a tauira Māori that I needed to broaden my vision and understanding around Māori health if I wanted to create safer spaces for the different whānau Māori involved in and that engage with research.
The literature review I undertook explored the development of Kaupapa Māori Theory and Practice over the last decade in Aotearoa. Initially I revised the mahi of early Kaupapa Māori pioneers and key principles and elements they established which underlie whakaaro and mahi Kaupapa Māori. I then explored what literature is currently being done in the Kaupapa Māori space and what it currently looks like when researchers are adopting Kaupapa Māori ideologies and methodologies into their mahi.
I initially identified the increasing variety of research fields and scholars that have adopted Kaupapa Māori methodologies since the initial work within the education sector. The range of research fields included and is not limited to; Health, Business, Law, Artificial Intelligence, Gaming, Agriculture, Theatre and Arts, Filming and Science. From this I was able to also identify the issues and barriers that current researchers face when attempting to implement Kaupapa Māori methods to their research. This ranges from individual and institutional barriers to systemic barriers that will need to be addressed and overcome so that Kaupapa Māori can be utilised to its best potential for Māori.
I personally felt I went on a journey of discovery as well in gaining more understanding to how Kaupapa Māori research works so well for our whānau. I am brought back to the whakataukī:
“He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!”
This whakataukī talks to the importance of meaningful human connection and relationships which I believe is where Kaupapa Māori thrives and allows our people to thrive within the research space whether that be a researcher or whānau participant. If research is carried out with the values of Tika, Pono and Aroha, values which underpin a Kaupapa Māori approach, then you are sure to create impactful results for our whānau in any area of research or mahi.
I feel I have gained more than just knowledge from this experience but perhaps a new supporting whānau as I head into my next steps in completing a PhD that will adopt both a Kaupapa Māori approach and Western-science approach as I look at how an emerging cancer therapy can be improved and applied by Māori in Aotearoa.
Such a great and rewarding experience for me, thank you Tanya for the constant support and supervision and Amohia for the opportunities you've provided me and the ongoing guidance. Kāore e mimiti āku nei mihi ki a kōrua ōtira ki a koutou o Whakauae. Mauriora!
