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Activating Māori Research Data Sovereignty in universities

Summary

Universities in Aotearoa hold a vast, largely unmapped, collection of Māori data. With that, these institutions are in positions of power to control the ways in which Māori data is collected, stored, accessed and used, often without meaningful involvement from Māori communities. Organised across three objectives, this project explores how Māori data governance can be strengthened within academic policy and institutional contexts in ways which give effect to Māori Data Sovereignty for Māori hāpori, hapū and iwi. 

The first objective investigates the potential for Machine Learning to identify and locate Māori research data held within universities. 

Objective two examines existing approaches to Māori data governance within a university context and identifies opportunities to bring institutional policies and practices into alignment with Te Kāhui Raraunga's Māori Data Governance Model. 

The third objective focuses on the relationships between Māori rightsholders and their data, exploring how Māori aspirations for MDSov can be at the centre of all decision-making.

Research Question

  1. What are prominent factors that enable whānau and reo communities to flourish in Aotearoa?
  2. How do the intersections between te reo Māori, psychological well-being, economic security, connection to whānau/whakapapa/whenua, education, and community impact on te reo Māori acquisition and use?
  3. What are the attributes of successful kaupapa that are providing reo change in our communities?

Lead Researcher

Dr. Kiri West, The University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau

Research team

Dr Paul Brown, Tainui, Ngāti Hikairo University of Waikato – Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

Dr Dion O’Neale, Tauiwi, Nicholson Consulting

Assoc Prof. Te Taka Keegan, Waikato-Maniapoto,Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue, University of Waikato – Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

Dr Daniel Wilson, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao, University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau

Tracey Maniapoto, University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau

Dr Maree Sheehan, Ngāti Maniapoto-Waikato, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa, Raukawa

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

Te Mihinga Komene, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

Dr Kim Southey, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Koata, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

Aamon Apiata, University of Waikato – Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato