Ko Takitimu te waka,
Ko Mohaka te awa,
Ko Te Huki te marae,
Ko Tawhirirangi te maunga,
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu, Ko Ngāti Pahauwera ngā iwi,
Ko Aneta Katarina Raiha Cram tōku ingoa.
Nei rā ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa.
In 2019, I began my doctoral research at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, the focus of which was to explore the development of Indigenous Evaluation Frameworks in Australia, Turtle Island, Hawai’i and Aotearoa.
Given that Western approaches are so often applied in evaluation involving Indigenous peoples around the world, I wanted to emphasise the importance of Indigenous peoples leading and defining how evaluation is carried out within their own communities. Indigenous communities are developing Indigenous evaluation frameworks for that very purpose. In my research I sought to deepen the understanding of why Indigenous communities are developing their own frameworks, how they approach that development, the impact these frameworks have, and to then share these learnings to support other communities who are developing their own community-grounded evaluation frameworks.
My research journey has been full of learning and challenge. Overall, it has been a privilege to learn more about existing Indigenous evaluation frameworks and the communities that developed them.
In 2021, I received the Whakauae Research Services Ltd Scholarship, and in 2023, I was awarded the Pae Tawhiti scholarship. I was immensely grateful for this support, as these scholarships not only helped alleviate the financial stress associated with studying but also strengthened my relationship with the Whakauae whānau and provided me with numerous opportunities.
To start, having Amohia Boulton as one of my supervisors has been invaluable. Her expertise and guidance have supported my critical thinking skills, improved my writing, and helped ensure that I approached all areas of my research ethically. I couldn’t imagine what my PhD journey would have been without Amohia’s guidance. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe, Amohia!
I have also been able to attend the Whakauae writing retreats, connect with other Whakauae Māori PhD students and participate in international conferences. Later this year, I have the opportunity to present my research findings at the Asia Pacific Evaluation Conference in Japan, with the last of the Pae Tawhiti scholarship funding covering some of my travel costs.
I was excited to submit my doctoral thesis entitled Sovereign Soils: An exploration of the development of Indigenous Evaluation Frameworks in Australia, Turtle Island, Hawai’i and Aotearoa in August of 2025. Following my viva, I look forward to the next stage in the research journey which, funding permitting, will involve postdoctoral research implementing the model for developing Indigenous evaluation frameworks which emerged through my thesis work.
He mihi nui, he mihi aroha ki te whānau ō Whakauae!
Ko Takitimu te waka,
Ko Mohaka te awa,
Ko Te Huki te marae,
Ko Tawhirirangi te maunga,
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu, Ko Ngāti Pahauwera ngā iwi,
Ko Aneta Katarina Raiha Cram tōku ingoa.
Nei rā ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa.
In 2019, I began my doctoral research at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, the focus of which was to explore the development of Indigenous Evaluation Frameworks in Australia, Turtle Island, Hawai’i and Aotearoa.
Given that Western approaches are so often applied in evaluation involving Indigenous peoples around the world, I wanted to emphasise the importance of Indigenous peoples leading and defining how evaluation is carried out within their own communities. Indigenous communities are developing Indigenous evaluation frameworks for that very purpose. In my research I sought to deepen the understanding of why Indigenous communities are developing their own frameworks, how they approach that development, the impact these frameworks have, and to then share these learnings to support other communities who are developing their own community-grounded evaluation frameworks.
My research journey has been full of learning and challenge. Overall, it has been a privilege to learn more about existing Indigenous evaluation frameworks and the communities that developed them.
In 2021, I received the Whakauae Research Services Ltd Scholarship, and in 2023, I was awarded the Pae Tawhiti scholarship. I was immensely grateful for this support, as these scholarships not only helped alleviate the financial stress associated with studying but also strengthened my relationship with the Whakauae whānau and provided me with numerous opportunities.
To start, having Amohia Boulton as one of my supervisors has been invaluable. Her expertise and guidance have supported my critical thinking skills, improved my writing, and helped ensure that I approached all areas of my research ethically. I couldn’t imagine what my PhD journey would have been without Amohia’s guidance. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe, Amohia!
I have also been able to attend the Whakauae writing retreats, connect with other Whakauae Māori PhD students and participate in international conferences. Later this year, I have the opportunity to present my research findings at the Asia Pacific Evaluation Conference in Japan, with the last of the Pae Tawhiti scholarship funding covering some of my travel costs.
I was excited to submit my doctoral thesis entitled Sovereign Soils: An exploration of the development of Indigenous Evaluation Frameworks in Australia, Turtle Island, Hawai’i and Aotearoa in August of 2025. Following my viva, I look forward to the next stage in the research journey which, funding permitting, will involve postdoctoral research implementing the model for developing Indigenous evaluation frameworks which emerged through my thesis work.
He mihi nui, he mihi aroha ki te whānau ō Whakauae!
