Claiming Spaces: Prioritizing
Maaori Worldview
Lyn Doherty
Mera Penehira
Elaine Spark
Aroha Gray
Ohomairangi Early
Intervention Services
2007 National Maaori and
Pacific Graduates of
Psychology Symposium
Overview
• Engagement vs
Consultation
• Disengagement
• Power Relations
• Self Determination
• Historical Context
• Contemporary Context
• Agents of the State
“…there will not be a
need to involve Maori
in discussions on all
treaties but that the
focus must be on
ensuring that this
occurs on international
treaties concerning
issues of relevance to
Maori … Maori
involvement would be
expected on any treaty
action affecting the
control or enjoyment of
Maori resources (te
tino rangatiratanga) or
taonga as protected
under the Treaty of
Waitangi.” (p.1)
Engagement
Engagement
“Linking history,
politics, economics,
and class to the
concepts of culture
and power to develop
both a language of
critique and a
language of hope.
These work conjointly
and have proven
successful in helping
generations of
disenfranchised
peoples to liberate
themselves”. (Freire
1998; 90-118).
Engagement vs Consultation
“The more students work at
storing the deposits entrusted to
them, the less they develop the
critical consciousness which
would result from their
intervention in the world as
transformers of that
world….passive role equals
adaptation to the world as it
is…minimizes creative power”
(Freire)
Engagement Implies
Disengagement
• Does this mean we engage
then disengage?
• Does this mean we follow
previous disengagement?
• What are the implications?
Kaupapa Maaori and Power
Relations
• The indigenous space exists
within other spaces
• State funding + State agent =
family? X
• The isolation of the family and
impact on sense of power
• Interventionist view: family in
need vs family strengths
Self Determination
• Implicit in Kaupapa Maaori
• Collective self determination
of the family
• Indvidual success formula of
neoliberalism
• Understanding and practising
the ‘indigenous research
agenda’ (Smith LT 1999)
Self Determining Communities
“A society that has ready access to a pool
of talent from which to draw is a
society that can and will build a strong
infrastructure. With knowledgeable
people they become more self-reliant at
all levels of their social, economic and
civil services… powerful societies are
not despotic regimes led by corrupt
dictators who have little care over the
welfare of their people – they are
politically motivated societies who
recognize that the wealth of their
country rests in the well-being of their
people.” (Jenkins K 2005)
Historical Context of
Engagement and
Disengagement
•
•
•
•
Parihaka
Whaingaroa
Bastion Point
Ruatoki
Contemporary Context of
Engagement and
Disengagement
• State engage in
terrorism
• Maaori engage in
self determination
Agents of the state take
responsibility
• Extended quality
relationships
• Code of ethical practice
• KM assessment
planning and evaluation
system
• Hikoi: Walk the talk