Traditional understandings of wāhine Māori, their roles, and maintenance of their safety: Kaumātua and kuia perspectives

Project supervisors: Professor Denise Wilson & Dr Alayne Mikahere-Hall

Institution: Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau

Raumati intern: Hana Vause (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa)

Project Summary:  The intern will have the opportunity to apply kaupapa Māori methodology and Mana Wāhine theory (that draws on decolonisation and intersectionality), through the analysis of data already collected from kaumātua and kuia using a mahi-a-roopū analytic process.

The intern will be working primarily with Professor Denise Wilson and Dr Alayne Mikahere-Hall (Taupua Waiora Centre for Māori Health Research, Auckland University of Technology), who are established researchers working with wāhine, rangatahi, and whānau living with violence. The internship will focus on analysing already collected data from the E Tū Wāhine, E Tū Whānau research funded by the Marsden fund. The broader project aims to explore culturally appropriate ways of supporting wāhine and whānau wellbeing, while challenging common perceptions and negative stereotypes of Māori women as simultaneously 'victims’ and perpetrators of domestic violence.

The intern will work collaboratively to analyse the data and develop a manuscript for submission to a peer reviewed journal, gaining valuable analytic skills and experience in preparing and writing a manuscript.