Awardee: Deacon Fisher (Ngāpuhi (Te Parawhau, Te Uriroroi, Te Māhurehure ki Whatitiri)), Massey University
In recent years, pūrākau have been an area of research interest. This has primarily resulted in the emergence of pūrākau as a mode of therapeutic intervention. Despite this, pūrākau and their application within the social work profession are yet to be explored. In addition, whilst tikanga Māori across social services has been previously explored, tikanga ā-iwi and kawa ā-iwi have often been of secondary focus, aside from the respective research conducted by Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata, Hayley Bell, and Tania Rickard.
In light of this, this research explores how pūrākau influences the tikanga and kawa of iwi social services across five iwi social services of Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi. By doing so, this project redirects research endeavours toward pre-colonial sociological groupings of tangata whenua, advocating for the unique identity of iwi and mitigating vast perceptions of tangata whenua as being a singular homogenous group with standardised philosophies and practices. Furthermore, this research will produce a localised model of practice reflective of the social work practice environment of Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi. be exp...