Transformations of entrepreneurial tribal Māori leadership

About this research

Project purpose: The project is a Marsden Fund grant that examines entrepreneurial tribal Māori leadership. For 40 years there has been no major analytical work on contemporary Māori leadership. The economic condition of Māori tribal groups has changed dramatically during that time, from a state of resourcelessness to a new phase of socio-economic development particularly as a result of Treaty settlements and new tribal (iwi and hapū) businesses. This research project will reveal the significant contribution that indigenous entrepreneurship can make in areas of wealth creation, social stability, and national identity, and its importance to New Zealand’s social, economic, and political future. The multi-disciplinary team (two historians, two anthropologists and an economist) are using a case-study approach to show how matters such as commercial/cultural balance, trusteeship, accountability to multiple stakeholders, and reciprocity between leaders and their people are negotiated, and how their successful resolution contributes to tribal wellbeing. The results of their work will lead to a new model of indigenous entrepreneurial leadership that demonstrates the centrality of culture and the complexities of entrepreneurship from an indigenous perspective, and makes an important contribution to the international literature on entrepreneurship.

The purpose of the intern’s work has three aims: to broaden research skills in archival work; to develop community-based research skills; and to develop research writing and analysis skills. The archival work will be concerned with collating and reading materials given by hapū and iwi (for example strategic plans, annual reports and other planning documents) and materials that are publically available (for example newspaper or other media reports, written reports on ventures and any publications on the ventures). The community-based research will include assisting with interview planning (setting themes in collaboration with supervisor), attending interviews and taking notes. The intern will write up their notes from their research to assist in the building of the case studies. Senior researchers in the Marsden team will mentor and support the intern throughout the duration of the project.

The programme of work to be carried out: The intern will be involved in research related to one or more of the case study areas that the Marsden team are exploring involving Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whatua, Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa and Ngāi Tahu groups. There will be three stages for the student research programme:

1. This stage will be concerned with archival and written material research (three weeks). A bibliography of key sources and key themes will be identified
2. The second stage will be community-based research (four weeks). This will involve assisting with identifying themes to cover in the interviews on the basis of work carried out in phase one; helping with organising logistics and interviews; and recording and taking notes during the interviews
3. The final third stage will be analysis and writing (three weeks). Notes from the interviews and discussions with the lead researcher/supervisor plus notes taken from the first phase will be collated and written up according to themes developed.

Day to day nature of the work: Approximately six to eight weeks will be based at the university, firstly identifying then collating materials relating to case studies, then writing up notes towards the end of the project. Approximately two weeks will be in the field, assisting with interviews and discussions with people involved in the case study ventures.

Skills the student will learn

1. Data compilation and analysis
2. Research interview skills
3. Research ethics and protocols including accountability to source communities
4. Project management including the management of research outputs and working within a research team.