Maori Association of Social Science: Reflections

Peter AddsTe Kawa a Maui

MASS background

• MASS was formally established in 2008

• Nov 2006 BRCSS funded conference of Maori social scientists organised by the Whariki Research Group – Massey Uni.

Scope

• For our purposes, MASS is defined as ‘a Māori association about the knowledge of and for our communities’ and Māori social scientists are anyone who is a ‘Māori community knowledge bearer’

Purpose• To promote and support Māori social scientists; • To promote capacity and capability building, research networking

and the strengthening of relations among Māori social scientists;• To be an authorised voice for Maori social scientists;• To promote the strengthening of international relations, knowledge

exchanges and collaborations among indigenous social scientists; • To promote and support Māori social scientists’ contributions to

Aotearoa and international communities;• To promote a Māori social science voice; and• To provide a forum for Māori social scientists to discuss issues of

mutual interest and concern and to debate, critique, evaluate, and analyse Māori-focused research without prejudice.

Objectives

• Support of scholarship at various levels including community, university, national, and international contexts;

• Implementation of core fundamentals that are kaupapa Māori based and relative to the field of social science;

• Provision of a forum to debate, critique, evaluate, and analyse Māori-focused research without prejudice;

• Maintenance of a strong Māori membership presence in the organisation whilst acknowledging the contributions from other ethnicities.

Values

• Tikanga – a framework to foster and develop Māori social science

• Matauranga – Māori knowledge and social science• Manaakitanga – support for Māori social scientists• Kaitiakitanga – advocacy for Māori social science• Whakamana – empowerment of Māori social scientists • Kotahitanga – Maori solidarity in Māori social science • Te Tiriti o Waitangi – a guiding document for Maori

social science

Membership

• In accordance with its stated purpose, scope and values, the membership of MASS includes:– Māori social scientists or researchers engaged in

Māori social science research (as defined in the MASS scope); and

– Representatives of institutions that deliver Māori social science-related research services.

Governance

• MASS is to be governed by a constitution and formal structures. Its governance structure is made up of:– An elected national executive of 13 members,

each serving a two-year term, made up of one nominee from each key tertiary institution involved in MASS, plus two nominated affiliate representatives;

– A rotating host institution for a term of two years at a time.

Maori Development and MASS

• Maori must be in a position to produce our own high quality social science research to:– formulate our own development agendas that

address a range of the socio-economic disparities affecting Maori

– assess and critique the effectiveness of government policy on Maori communities

– allow Maori to be responsive and adaptable in fluctuating social and economic milieu

– enable Maori to be better informed decision-makers in the Maori-Crown Treaty relationship