Mātauranga Māori
Understanding a mulifaceted knowledge system.
Mātauranga Māori is a dynamic and evolving knowledge system referring to the observations, experience, study, and understanding of the world from an indigenous cultural perspective. To many this is often equated with 'cultural wisdom'. It is locally specific and based on long-standing interactions between people and their environment.
Mātauranga Māori is a multifaceted knowledge system, encompassing the physical, such as food gathering sites (mahinga kai), through to principles such as including ethics (tikanga), resource management and stewardship (kaitiakitanga), and spirituality (wairuatanga).
Sources: Awatere et al., 2017; Harmsworth, 2005; Harmsworth et al., 2013
Dr John Perrott, Auckland University of Technology, discussing Mātauranga Māori and science
Dr Andrea Byrom, Manaaki Whenua, Why should we include Vision Mātauranga and Mātauranga Māori in our research?
More information
An excellent presentation on Mātauranga Māori and Science by Dr Ocean Ripeka Mercier (Ngāti Porou) at the Enhancing Māori Distinctiveness research symposium (2012).
AWATERE, S., HARMSWORTH, G. & ROBB, M. 2017. Te reo o te repo: The voice of the wetland: connections, understandings and learnings for the restoration of our wetlands, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.
HARMSWORTH, G. 2005. Good Practice guidelines for working with tangata whenua and Maori organisations: Consolidating our learning. Report prepared for the Integrated Catchment Management Programme.
HARMSWORTH, G., AWATERE, S. & PAULING, C. 2013. Using mātauranga Māori to inform freshwater management. Landcare Research Policy Brief no. 7.
Mātauranga Māori (Māori values and knowledge, Manaaki Whenua information page with downloadable resources.
