Research Overview

This project asks whether there are lessons to be had found in both the Māori Covid-19 response to date and the growing body of evidence that papakāinga living has benefits beyond the physical home that could inform a wider response to prepare whānau for current and future infectious disease threats and ultimately support ongoing socio-cultural connection and thus everyday good mental health?

Kahutoi Mere Te Kanawa (Ngāti Kinohaku, Maniapoto, Waikato, Tuwharetoa me Rarua oku iwi), 

My application for this scholarship is to help me complete my Creative Practice Doctorate, which I have now been working on for a number of years.

Kirsty Dunn (Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa), University of Canterbury

My PhD thesis, tentatively titled “‘Into the Dark, We Are Moths’” Centering Whakapapa, Representing Animals in Māori Writing in English” is an exploration of the ways in which human-animal relationships are represented and reimagined in contemporary Māori writing in English.  I aim to both describe a Kaupapa Māori framework for reading Māori literature, and demonstrate its efficacy and potential by analysing a selection of contemporary works.

Bonnie Maihi (Waikato-Tainui), University of Waikato

This project explores education and work pathways for Maaori Rangatahi/youth growing up in Aotearoa gang spaces.

The research aims to create awareness of pathways for Maaori children growing up in Aotearoa gang spaces and contribute to the development of Maaori whaanau in Aotearoa gang spaces by providing space for the silenced Maaori gang member

The majority of collaboration at this point is to be with whaanau in the gang spaces, alongside those showing leadership with our whaanau in these spaces. Other options may include - marae, hapuu and iwi.

The research contributes to a space which many Maaori whaanau occupy - providing a platform Tino Rangatiratanga / Self-determination Whaanau development - whaanau encouragement to find own solutions to nuturing ragatahi in these spaces onto school & work pathways.

Louise Kewene-Doig (Tainui, Ngāti Haua), University of Otago

My research focus is Māori music experiences of the 1960s through the Māori Showband phenomenon. Using Kaupapa Māori and whakapapa research methods, my thesis will explore the importance of the Māori Showbands from the perspective of band members. I am creating unique ways of retelling cultural and social experiences as well through the development of Tutuku a digital archive.

Riripeti Haretuku (Ngapuhi, Taranaki, Te Arawa me Whakatohea), The University of Auckland

In this work, I rethink SUDI: SIDS, also known as cot death, within a kaupapa Māori framework. I use the term mate ohorere pēpi, not as an equivalent of SUDI: SIDS, but to encompass all the aspects of a Māori experience of the sudden death of a pēpi (baby).

I argue that SUDI in Māori whanau must be understood as mate ohorere pēpi, and therefore discussion and practice related to sudden Māori infant death must include Māori understandings of the Māori spiritual world, tapu, wairua, whakapono, whakapapa, whakawhānau, whenua, whānau, whānaungātangā, tangihanga.