Pākehā intermediaries in Māori research

Exploring the impact of Pākehā intermediaries in Māori-focused research and innovation.

Three academics sat at a table discussing, two are in focus, and one is out of focus in the foreground. — BNZIC team meeting.

One of the goals of the Science for Technological Innovation (SfTI) National Science Challenge (NSC) was to unite mātauranga Māori and western science to explore new and exciting opportunities to build a vibrant and prosperous technology-driven economy. This goal is mirrored by Vision Mātauranga, a government science policy with the mission to unlock the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources, and people for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

This goal to unite Mātauranga Māori and western science presents an exciting opportunity for the development of high-tech science in Aotearoa—New Zealand. However, making this happen does not come without its challenges.

Role of pākehā intermediaries

Māori researchers and community partners make up only a small percentage (13%) of those who have been involved in SfTI projects. This is reflected in academia nationally where Māori are underrepresented in tertiary science and education.
This means that much of the SfTI research activity has been completed by Pākeha scientists. The BNZIC researchers considered the role of the Pākeha science leader who has to navigate the uncertainty of working in an unknown Māori domain. They observed that for those who have never worked with Māori, likely the majority, this can at first be ‘scary’ and ‘daunting’.

Reflexivity and shifting identity

Through an iterative process and an openness to stepping into a Māori world, scientists can become more reflexive. These researchers become more aware of their responsibilities to not only the science but also to their Māori partners in terms of desired research results. This in turn could lead such intermediaries to review the expectations of an academic identity, such as their university research’s ‘publish or perish mentality’ as the following demonstrates:

“I could see the importance of building that relationship and putting that time in, even though it will not turn up in an academic paper anywhere”.

Pākehā intermediaries, in bridging or brokering with Māori, continue to negotiate the space between the Māori and non-Māori worlds within a context of the science and technology. These ‘negotiations’ take place primarily through face-to-face interactions, where little by little the scientist readjusts their positioning, redefining their role from ‘technical scientist’ to ‘champion’ for a Māori-focused project.

“[…] with a proposal that was submitted, the best one I thought was the one […] getting iwi involved. It had a plan, had a strategy, and it was about involving iwi”.

Use of te reo Māori

Examples of this shift included increased use of te reo and comfort with/understanding of Tikanga, a noticeable transformation compared to when they first started in the project. Use of te reo Māori may signal increased confidence on the part of an individual; a desire to show affiliation with the Māori partner; or the start of a more accepting approach to incorporation of ‘things Māori’ into their wider science practice.

“So, one of the highlights of that Taranaki hui was going out and collecting flax and weaving baskets... That very easy flow of gentle conversation is something that I guess that's special... so I've got students working on parts of the project this year, that message is really clear to them, that kaupapa is really understood and shared...”

Speculatively, this may transfer to an individual’s teaching and mentoring roles, which may in turn, encourage others to work on projects that are Māori focused.

The goal of uniting mātauranga Māori and western science presents an exciting opportunity for high-tech science development in Aotearoa—New Zealand. However, the underrepresentation of Māori researchers in SfTI projects highlights the role of pākehā intermediaries in navigating unfamiliar Māori domains. Through reflexivity and openness, these intermediaries can transform their perspectives and embrace their responsibilities to both the science and their Māori partners, ultimately leading to a stronger connection to Māori culture, language, and practices. Such shifts have the potential to extend beyond individual projects, influencing teaching and mentoring practices and encouraging others to engage in Māori-focused research endeavours. This journey of bridging worlds and fostering collaboration exemplifies the progress towards a more inclusive and culturally responsive science and innovation landscape in Aotearoa—New Zealand.