2020-2021

Project Title: Māori cultural identity and the natural environment

Project Description: The purpose of this summer project was to capture the perspectives of one of the most respected and renowned Māori scholars and health experts – Tā Mason Durie. The summer scholar explored what specific aspects of te taiao Tā Mason believes are essential for a strong Māori cultural identity, and therefore sustained (individual and collective) Māori well-being. This exploration will be done via a series of kōrero, and was part of the He taonga kē te ngahere project. A Storymap reflecting Tā Mason’s kōrero was created from this summer research project.

Summer Scholar: Aorangi Kora (Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata, Whakatōhea)

Project Title: Meaning in context. An ethnography of emerging Māori leaders engagement with the ngahere.

Project Description: The purpose of this summer project was to capture the ethnographic perspectives of a small group of emerging Māori leaders. In particular, the perspectives of the ‘espoused self’ and the ‘immersed self’ of emerging Māori leaders were explored regarding their relationships with and the value and meaning they give to te taiao, ngahere and taonga species, both theoretically and experientially, over three phases:

1. BEFORE they engaged in an immersive ngahere experience (phase 1)

2. DURING their engagement in an immersive ngahere experience (phase 2)

3. AFTER their engagement in an immersive ngahere experience (phase 3)

This exploration will be done via a series of kōrero, and was part of the He taonga kē te ngahere project. A Storymap reflecting the perspectives of the emerging Māori leaders was created from this summer research project.

Summer Scholar: Lily Keats-Farr (Ngāti Pūkenga)

Project Title: For a better world. Rangatahi perspectives on te taiao, te ngahere, and taonga species.

Project Description: The purpose of this summer project was to capture the perspectives of rangatahi Māori. In particular, the summer scholar engaged in a presentation and focus group with rangatahi from the UNICEF Rangatahi program, and obtained their perspectives on the value and meaning they give to te taiao, te ngahere and taonga species. The focus group also sought rangatahi perspectives on their aspirations for the future and their beliefs on how those aspirations can be achieved.

This summer scholarship was part of the He taonga kē te ngahere project. A Storymap reflecting the perspective of the rangatahi was created from this summer research project.

Summer Scholar: Joziah Townsend