Me kauhi rānei koe ki te huruhuru kākāpō : weaving a korowai that espouses the dreams and aspirations of Māori social workers’ practice, realising their mana tangata : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa (Massey University, Manawatū), Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Abstract

This thesis explored how Māori social workers were empowered to exercise their tino rangatiratanga and mana tangata, worn as a korowai in their practice. The research offered an understanding of how social workers navigated being Māori and being a social worker. Having a Māori identity can often be encumbered with cultural expectations exceeding vocational responsibilities that may or may not enhance professional and personal personas. This thesis explored the experiences of six Māori social workers in kanohi kitea hui, and considered the question: are you a Māori social worker or a social worker who is Māori? This question is at the heart of the thesis title: ‘Me kauhi rānei koe ki te huruhuru kākāpō: Weaving a korowai that espouses the dreams and aspirations of Māori social workers’ practice, realising their mana tangata’. A qualitative kaupapa Māori approach was applied throughout the thesis using a number of cultural frameworks, including whakataukī, inspirational quotes, a korowai weaving frame and a tauparapara, embedding the research process in Te Ao Māori. The metaphor of weaving a thesis korowai was an enduring theme throughout the thesis. The findings in this thesis concluded that Māori social workers are highly resilient, innovative and resourceful, and that despite the ongoing struggles of the effects of colonisation that impact their identity, practice and ideology, they are self-actualising, self-determining and realising their mana tangata. The findings demonstrated that for tino rangatiratanga to be fully realised however, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the principles outlined in Pūao-te-Ata-tū need to be honoured. This thesis concluded that an ambicultural approach to the tino rangatiratanga of indigenous Māori social workers offers a new frame for weaving a korowai fit for practice, replacing the outdated ill-fitting bicultural garment.