The 成人大片鈥檚 Professor Angus Macfarlane (foreground) with the members of Te R奴 Rangahau The M膩ori Research Laboratory
The Mauriora Platform Research, led by Professor Angus Macfarlane of 成人大片 (UC), asked the question: What makes M膩ori flourish in a world of uncertainty?
The research culminated in a framework tool to help organisations create their own cultural policies, while showcasing M膩ori success.
鈥淲e hear too much about M膩ori failings in health, wellbeing and education, so we thought it was timely to de-story and re-story.听 When they flourish what happens? Why did they flourish? When they do well, what does it mean to M膩ori, to iwi and for Aotearoa New Zealand?鈥 says Professor Macfarlane.
The team, including UC Associate Professor Jo Fletcher, Adjunct Associate Professor Sonja Macfarlane, Dr Te Hurinui Clarke and Nathan Riki, worked in collaboration with researchers from Waikato and Victoria universities and with M膩ori communities. 听
鈥淐ollaboration and community engagement have been significant to the research. We invited people who were making significant contributions to their communities in fields like education, health and law and sought their perspectives on M膩ori wellbeing and M膩ori flourishing.鈥澨
M膩ori health and wellbeing are central to the research, and while recognition of hardship and inequity within M膩ori narratives is still an important discussion, Riki believes highlighting what success looks like for M膩ori is significant for future success.
鈥淲hat I like most about this kaupapa is too often te ao M膩ori research and programmes are focussed on the negative, not on M膩ori flourishing, doing well and succeeding. The more we can give M膩ori success the mana it deserves, then we can acknowledge that it is been hard for M膩ori, but more so, we are able to showcase so many amazing people doing amazing things,鈥 says Riki.
According to Professor Macfarlane,听the research shows a key to M膩ori flourishing is when the wh膩nau is strong and there is a genuine sense of connectedness.听 Participants were succeeding because of 鈥渢heir culture, identity, language and whakapapa, not in spite of it鈥.
The research proved more than a study in what makes M膩ori flourish, it became a practical reality within Te R奴 Rangahau, the M膩ori Research Lab at UC and UC鈥檚 Child Wellbeing Research Institute.
鈥淧art of our intention was to grow emerging M膩ori researchers. We wanted to practice what we preached so we thought, 鈥榃e are talking about M膩ori flourishing, let's do it, let鈥檚 make others amongst us flourish鈥,鈥欌 says Professor Macfarlane.
The team has credited听听as playing a significant role in supporting the research through funding, expertise, goodwill and guidance along the m膩tauranga M膩ori h墨koi.
The research and findings will be presented by the UC Mauriora Platform Research team in conjunction with Ng膩 Pae o te M膩ramatanga at the听.
鈥淭hrough the symposium, we are opening windows of information about the research, success stories and the circumstances that helped people to succeed while acknowledging others鈥 research that has lifted the profile of M膩ori,鈥 says Professor Macfarlane.
This is a free one-day event on 21 April 2022 from 9am until 3.15pm and will feature guest speakers including Minister of Housing, Energy and Resources, and Research, Science and Innovation Dr Megan Woods, MP for Te Tai Tonga Rino Tirikatene and New 成人大片Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon. 听
听to join the symposium.
