Marama’s discussion raised a lot of interesting points about the place of Maori knowledge in New Zealand research. She mentioned the perception some still have that Maori knowledge is somehow lesser than the ‘real’ Western-style knowledge deduced from scientific method.
What I found particularly encouraging was her explanation of the inclusion of Matauranga Maori in the Ministry of Business and Innovation’s grant proposal process. Admittedly, when she brought this up, I initially regarded it with suspicion. It seemed like it could be regarded by some as a tick-boxing exercise. I was unsure how much this could contribute to a furthering of Maori knowledge. However, Marama’s explanation of how she has created a consultation process for Maori researchers to assist with Vision Matauranga showed me how finding a way for Maori to capitalize on their knowledge is really important. The fact that the income from assisting with Vision Matauranga went on to employ Maori researchers in the James Henare Research Center demonstrates the good Vision Matauranga does.
Another interesting point is Marama’s assertion that Vision Matauranga Maori does not extend to other indigenous knowledge systems like Pasifika knowledge. While Vision Matauranga is a great step towards dispelling hierarchies of knowledge, the refusal to extend it to Pasifika knowledge could be regarded as an endorsement of another hierarchy. Additionally, this raises questions about whether the worth of Maori knowledge is only legitimised when recognised by a Western-style knowledge body and turned into a capital value.
