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Subject: search.filters.subject.450904 Ngā mātauranga taiao o te Māori (Māori environmental knowledges)

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    Place, provenance, protection : alignments, challenges, and opportunities for Māori future foods : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Food Technology at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University, Manawatū o Turitea, Palmerston North
    (Massey University, 2025-07-08) Wright, Summer Rangimaarie
    This thesis examines key alignments, challenges, and opportunities for Māori future foods, conceptualised as food production processes and outcomes that positively impact Māori and kinship networks. Beginning with a focus on plant-based future foods, a scoping interview study with Māori enterprise revealed strong alignment with Māori aspirations, including fulfilling kinship responsibilities, bringing together multiple forms of value, advancing collective wellbeing, and protecting and expressing Māori rights and interests - particularly in cultural and intellectual property. Participants identified place branding as a promising avenue to protect and develop cultural landscapes and enable future foods. The second study developed a content analysis protocol to explore the branding of Māori food and beverage packaging, with a focus on the prevalence and potential functions of place elements. Findings show that place branding is widely used by Māori enterprises, affirming its relevance to Māori future foods, while also highlighting a need to understand perceptions of Indigenous place elements. The third study used means-end chain laddering interviews to examine how critical consumers in Aotearoa New Zealand and Singapore perceive Māori place elements. It found a range of positive and negative perceptions across both contexts, which suggest viable approaches to place branding by Māori food enterprise. The thesis presents three key messages: plant-based future foods are relevant to Māori on multiple levels; Māori future foods can be enabled through place branding; and Māori place branding can support enterprise development and the protection of Māori rights and cultural property. These findings have implications for advancing Māori future foods and for growing the research and practice of decolonial Māori and Indigenous place branding. By exploring these interconnections, the thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of how Māori aspirations can shape and benefit from future food systems. It also critiques the ongoing appropriation of Māori culture by government and industry to advance broader agricultural and economic agendas. This research offers a transdisciplinary approach, addressing gaps at the intersection of Māori enterprise, future foods, Indigenous place branding, and consumption studies.
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    Te-ia-o-te-Rangi : exploring Tūhoe astronomical knowledge in relation to the localised environmental management of water : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Matamua, Neihana
    Kōkōrangi Māori (Maori astronomy) is the traditional Māori practice of observing patterns within the celestial spheres, to anticipate and predict events occurring within the natural environment. Knowledge of these celestial patterns, in conjunction with localised environmental knowledge, offers deeper insight into understanding kaitiakitanga (guardianship), an Indigenous Māori environmental philosophy that promotes sustainable, holistic, and culturally appropriate forms of environmental management. Giving space for local voices elevates perspectives associated with unique local knowledge bases, and thus offers a more contextualised environmental understanding, free from a broader and generalised application of kaitiakitanga. Applying a Kaupapa Māori approach, this qualitative research explores Tūhoe astronomical knowledge in relation to localised environmental management. With a particular focus on Tūhoe water systems, this research explores the perspectives of two tohunga (experts) using an unstructured wānanga (forum, discussion) process. The research aims were to understand how the lived experiences and knowledge of these tohunga informed a Tūhoe perspective of water management. Through this meaning and understanding, how might the local community be better empowered to enact kaitiakitanga? Collected data was analysed using a phenomenological informed thematic analysis, with findings interpreted via the explanatory framework of Te-ia-o-te Rangi (the current of the sky). Findings indicated water management reflected the realities of the participants as members of their local community, which included their lived experiences; Tūhoe ontologies; and local history, events, knowledge, cultural expressions, places, spaces, and social dynamics. Secondly, improving quality of relationships with the environment was considered key to both improving understandings of water and empowering people to care for it. Finally, the application of Māori astronomical knowledge was perceived as a relevant and innovative way to create new narratives that enhance people’s ability to have a relationship with water. This research emphasises the value of drawing on local knowledge bases for localised environmental solutions, and highlights the potential utility of Māori astronomical knowledge to understanding and forming relationships with other environmental phenomena.
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    Rangitīkei Environmental Operations Limited : whānau and iwi collaboration through governance and business operations : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies at Massey University, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Hepi, Suzanne Maria-Rewa
    This executive summary provides an overview of this thesis, which is focused on exploring the governance and business operations of Rangitīkei Environmental Operations Limited (REO). This organisation is owned equally by the four rūnanga of Mōkai Pātea who are; Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāi Te Ohuake, Ngāti Whitikaupeka, and Ngāti Tamakōpiri. The thesis recognises the integral role of whakapapa and iwi within the context of Māori culture and acknowledges these unique positions as the cornerstone of Māori society. The literature review, examines the complex procedures and shifting paradigms of governance, highlighting the differing viewpoints of Western, Indigenous, and Māori governance systems. It looks at governance, corporate governance, co-governance, and business models emphasising any potential synergies that may result from the interaction of these frameworks. The methodology chapter compares and contrasts Western research paradigms, including positivism, post-positivism and critical theory, before discussing kaupapa Māori approaches. It explains the qualitative methodology that is used, combining kaupapa Māori concepts of whakapapa, kōrero, manaakitanga, and pānui documentary analysis. Whanaungatanga is highlighted as a key aspect given that the position of the researcher is an insider who has been granted access to interview participants due to their whakapapa and connections with the iwi involved. The findings and discussions chapter aligns the research results to three themes: Mātauranga derived from the concept of capability, Kaupapa rather than the standard idea of capacity, and Whakapapa instead of succession. The interviews with the five participants show that REO is operating successfully due to the kaupapa-driven commitment to the work, and strong values of whakapapa ensuring that connection between the four iwi and the environmental development is retained. However, while mātauranga is shared where possible, the capability gap in terms of business and financial skills presents difficulties to the business. The findings show that succession at REO will require greater opportunities to compensate board representatives and build business acumen while maintaining whakapapa links to the iwi to ensure whānau and environmental wellbeing is centered. The conclusion summarises the findings using the contrast between the Western and Kaupapa Māori themes. It makes recommendations to address the challenges shared by the interviewees and lays out the current reality for an iwi like Mōkai Pātea who are yet to settle their Treaty of Waitangi claim. The chapter finishes with the aspirations that the findings of this thesis will serve as steppingstone in enhancing the capabilities of the iwi business and whānau. Overall, the thesis question was answered, shedding light on key aspects of the topic; however, further investigation is required to delve deeper into certain areas, explore alternative perspectives, and address potential limitations, ensuring a comprehensive and robust understanding of the subject matter.