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Repository of knowledge Mātauranga Māori
The Sustainable Seas Challenge, targeting marine resources and conservation, integrates Māori insights through a digital repository to preserve Mātauranga Māori, aligning with Vision Mātauranga policy.
Introduction
The Sustainable Seas Challenge operates under New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, aiming to balance marine resource use and conservation. It involves five research programmes and the Vision Mātauranga policy, which seeks to incorporate Māori knowledge in research to benefit all New Zealanders. A significant project, VM4.1 A Repository of Knowledge – Mātauranga Māori, aims to create a digital repository to protect, preserve, and record Mātauranga Māori.
Analysis
The emphasis on protecting Mātauranga Māori stems from concerns over the misuse of Māori knowledge and lack of control over its use, highlighted in the Wai 262 Waitangi Tribunal Report. The Challenge's objectives require strong relationships with Māori, trust, and transparency in handling Māori knowledge. The proposed repository will be a significant advancement in meeting these objectives by providing a systematic approach to record the origins and usage of Mātauranga Māori, thereby facilitating appropriate future research and use.
Conclusion
The Sustainable Seas Challenge, through Project VM4.1, addresses the need for an effective mechanism to manage Mātauranga Māori. By fostering connections and understanding between Māori and researchers, the repository aims to create an environment where Māori knowledge can be utilized ethically and beneficially within the context of marine resource management and scientific research, ensuring Māori involvement and benefit from the Challenge's outcomes.
Key insights
Striving for a balance between use and conservation of marine resources
The Sustainable Seas Challenge conducts research that aims to enhance New Zealand’s marine economy while ensuring a sustainable marine environment. This involves a holistic approach that includes consideration of economic, cultural, and conservation values associated with marine resources, suggesting ongoing explorations into sustainable marine practices.
Incorporating Māori perspectives is integral to the research process
The Challenge's commitment to integrating Māori perspectives through the Vision Mātauranga policy highlights the significance of indigenous knowledge in shaping New Zealand's marine management strategies. Efforts are being made to ensure that Māori cultural understandings are taken into account in scientific research, indicating an evolving approach towards collaborative knowledge building.
Addressing the challenges of protecting Mātauranga Māori
There is a clear intent to secure Mātauranga Māori from potential misappropriation and to empower Māori communities to manage their traditional knowledge. The establishment of a digital repository is seen as a crucial step in recording Mātauranga Māori, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to handling and safeguarding indigenous knowledge within the framework of modern research initiatives.
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Knowledge guiding change.
© Copyright 2024 - Tohorā
© Copyright 2024 - Tohorā
Knowledge guiding change.
