Taipōrutu, Taonga Tuku Iho. Articulating a Mātauranga Māori ‘Sense of Place’.

Abstract

Māori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) cultural values in relation to resource management within New Zealand, are often co-joined with a preservation framework. The practical implication of this, places identity as a discrete object from evolving society, philosophy, and business practices. Within the current (2012-2015) neo-liberalist focus of New Zealand policy development, the normalized view is that increasing economics and employment better equips Māori to determine their pathway forward. The risk in this assessment is that the overall framework of trade and societal values is not acknowledged as being embedded within a cultural paradigm. In discounting cultural knowledge, potential opportunities for assisting resource management issues that are specific to New Zealand society and place, are not pursued. This thesis and creative body of work discusses the eco-philosophical, and community connective values of mātauranga Māori, and considers how the science-communication of these might be improved, and also contextualized within resource management development processes. Innovations in cultural communication are discussed via analysis of a range of Māori involved in identity politics, through research, science and design fields. What are the societal implications of design and communication actions? Through my research an appropriate kaupapa Māori methodology has been developed for understanding Māori identity within the landscape (this includes the wider environmental eco-system connected to the land). Alongside this, I have focused on the technical tools of mapping and photography as effective mediums to augment communication of Māori connection to place, these are used extensively throughout the thesis to illustrate the discussion. The creative component explores a specific case study of Taipōrutu, my whānau farm on the East Coast of New Zealand, the concept of a ‘Kaitiakitanga Plan’ has been produced as a base to work towards a more culturally integrated method of farm management.