Te Tātua o Kahukura: A National Project Report to Ako Aotearoa

Collective sharing of stories and experiences of MAI Te Kupenga doctoral scholars at hui over six locations.

"The methods employed included interviews, hui and career pathway workshops, based on preliminary research findings and literature reviews." (p. 5)

focus group interviews

The research included in this report aimed to better understand the career development needs of Māori and Indigenous (MAI) early career scholars. A number of themes are explored: the journey of doctoral students, systemic issues, financial constraints, support systems and success factors, among others. The research involved the collective sharing of stories and experiences of MAI Te Kupenga doctoral scholars. Through the hui and interviews, values and practices emerged that could provide a foundation for post-doctoral supports and programs.

Kaupapa Māori

Project Objective #3 - Undertake a series of hui with early career MAI scholars and staff to disseminate and refine research findings, receive feedback and give-back to participants through the use of PATH, as a career pathway planning tool. P. 12

"Hui and interviews with Māori and Indigenous doctoral scholars and Māori staff identified key Kaupapa Māori elements such as ako (Māori pedagogies), taonga tuku iho (validation of tikanga and te reo Māori), whanaungatanga (maintaining a focus on relationships), tuakana-teina (culturally defined relationships), kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face gatherings), and tikanga (aroha, respect and manaakitanga)… Each of the Kaupapa Māori values and practices, identified through the hui and interviews with Māori and Indigenous doctoral scholars and Māori staff, provides a foundation for the development of Māori and Indigenous post-doctoral support programmes that would include a range of activities, workshops and opportunities." (p. 10)

"A key element of this methodological approach is the notion of esearch as transformational, and in the context of Māori education, there is a need to ensure that Māori learners are able to live fully as Māori during their educational experiences" (p. 17)

Literature, Interview, hui and workshop transcripts, reports, presentations

Hui process
Workshops
Public Reports

"One of the main unifying factors of Māori and Indigenous students was the overarching focus on research projects that would be transformational, if not for the researchers personally, then for their families, their hapū, iwi or their communities" (p. 7)

"A key connection between this political position and the report is that the initial establishment of the MAI programme was not solely to increase numbers in the programme. Rather, it was designed to create spaces within which Māori cultural approaches and pedagogies could operate and be sustained in the academy" (p. 14)

"The MAI Te Kupenga network provides doctoral scholars with an interdisciplinary, multi-site network of Māori and Indigenous students as a mechanism of collective support. It enables connectedness across iwi, Indigenous nations, tertiary institutions, organisations, disciplines and methodological approaches, and strengthens our collective ability for our work to make a difference for our people" (p. 20)

Education
Collaborative Research