Kaupapa Maori: Maori Futures

Description

Every Māori aspiration is in some way affected by government policy: whether it is land, language, social disparities, education, health or traditional knowledge, government policy will have a profound impact on whether Māori values and aspirations are recognised and if so, to what end.  As a result, Iwi Māori have a strong legacy of seeking to influence the purpose, content and operation of government policy to better provide for self-determination.
This paper focuses on our contemporary time, exploring Māori engagement in political and policy issues across social, cultural, environmental and political spheres.  Students will have the opportunity to examine current government policy across all of these dimensions and develop an understanding of how those policies impact on Māori rights, interests and values.
This course will help you to develop a range of analytical skills and applied ability to engage with Māori related policy.
MAOR301 is especially relevant for people who are interested in working for government or Māori organisations.  Many of our graduates become policy analysts with government departments and Iwi authorities.  This paper will give you a practical head start on your future career.

When New Zealand are one of the few countries refusing to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People questions are asked about what and how Māori issues are considered.
• What is tino rangatiratanga? what does it look like and how is it connected through Māori approaches to dealing with contemporary matters?
• Did Māori want to ‘own’ the foreshore and sea bed, if this happened would it mean Māori could lock anyone off from the beach? would this have had any effect on wider society?
• Are Māori naturally warriors? predisposed to fighting? What was the truth behind the ‘Warrior gene’ debate and why was the nation so quick to accept it?
• Māori trail in health and education statistics yet at one point the people were considered a model of health and were more literate than settlers. What happened and what are Māori doing to change this?

Themes occurring in this paper
• Tino rangatiratanga and a Māori approach to contemporary issues
• Aspirations for Māori from Māori and Pakeha in Government policy
• Māori seats in government and the creation of the Māori party, what is Māori representation in government?
• Internal Māori matters: Tribal authorities, urban authorities, or both?
• Post-settlement tribal organisations focus on Tainui and Ngai Tahu
• Ownership, control, protection, future; the foreshore and seabed debate
• Health and education – where is blame laid? How are Māori taking control?
• Māori relationship with the law
• Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi approach and application
• Knowledge and future of indigenous Science

Goals
• Understand and engage with the contemporary issues Māori are confronting
• See living in New Zealand society through a Māori lens
• Recognise Tino rangatiratanga running through Māori responses to critical issues
• Heartily discuss contemporary issues to create a considered opinion

Learning outcome
• Understand the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and their application in current Māori issues
• Have an appreciation of contemporary issues in the Māori world and their relevance
• Recognise the Māori aspirations in their responses to issues
• Have an understanding of internal and external Māori politics

Why this paper
Things Māori are integral to New Zealand society therefore paper in Māori point towards pathways
• Policy analysis in Government and Iwi Organisations
• Liaison
• Tourism
• Police
• Law
• Health, education, social Agencies
• All government departments
• Journalism
• Media

Transferable skills
• Critical analysis
• Group discussion
• Cultural awareness
• Applying principles of the treaty
• Māori world view