Tahatū-o-te-rangi: a study of the experiences and contributions of MAI Te Kupenga PhD scholars

Summary

Māori doctoral scholars often face significant challenges in universities dominated by Western academic traditions. These environments can clash with Māori cultural values and needs, reflecting colonial legacies that marginalise Indigenous knowledge and methodologies. To address these challenges, the Te Kupenga o MAI (MAI) programme was created in the late 1990s by Professor Graham Smith. This initiative supports Māori and Indigenous PhD students across Aotearoa New Zealand, providing mentorship, resources, and community connections grounded in Māori cultural values. MAI helps reduce isolation and creates culturally safe spaces for Māori scholars to succeed academically while maintaining their cultural identity.

This research focuses on understanding the long-term impact of the MAI programme by examining the experiences of recent Māori PhD graduates. It aims to explore their motivations, challenges, and the role MAI played in supporting them, as well as their career pathways and contributions to their communities after completing their studies. The findings will inform future efforts to support Māori doctoral scholars, ensuring they thrive in academia and contribute meaningfully to their whānau, hapū, iwi, and society.

Objectives

1. To document MAI scholars situational background, motivations for pursuing a PhD, and challenges faced during their doctoral journey.
2. To examine the role of MAI in supporting MAI scholars during their PhD journey, including the resources and professional development opportunities provided.
3. To explore the career pathways, transitions, and contributions of MAI scholars, and how their PhD experience has influenced their professional and personal lives.
4. To understand the spectrum of challenges faced by MAI scholars during their studies and the support systems that contributed to their success.

More information in the project’s website Project 2 Tahatū-o-te-rangi | Mai Promising Future

Lead Researchers

Professor Linda Waimarie Nikora and Dr Tania Cliffe-Tautari - The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Research Team

Associate Professor Deborah Heke, Ngā Puhi, Te Arawa, Unitec, Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka 

Associate Professor Hinekura Smith, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, The University of Queensland

Dr Tim West-Newman, The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Publications and media

Nikora, L. W. (Chair), Theodore, M., Naepi, S., & Kokaua, J. (Panelists). (2025, July 16). Ngā Pae o te [SG1] Māramatanga: Lifeworlds beyond the degree [Online webinar]. Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. https://vimeo.com/1104282635?fl=pl&fe=ti

Manathunga, C., Raciti, M., Smith, H., Qi, J., Keane, M., Motala, S., Msimango, S., & van der Westhuizen, G. (2025). Indigenous doctoral education policies in the Global South: Postcolonial policy borrowing in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Higher Education Policy. [SG2] https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-025-00422-2