Key research themes
1. How is mātauranga Māori revitalization linked to tino rangatiratanga and the future of New Zealand science?
This theme investigates the ongoing marginalization of mātauranga Māori (the Indigenous knowledge system of Māori) within New Zealand, emphasizing the critical need for its revitalization grounded in tino rangatiratanga (Māori sovereignty and self-determination). Research explores how Western epistemologies have historically dominated scientific discourse and policy, sidelining Indigenous knowledge systems, and argues for the reintegration and recognition of mātauranga Māori as a coequal, dynamic knowledge framework essential for Māori survival and cultural flourishing. This theme matters as it addresses decolonizing scientific paradigms, fulfilling government obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and international Indigenous rights, and reshaping New Zealand’s scientific future to reflect biculturalism authentically.
2. What are the dynamics between settler colonialism, cultural narratives, and political sovereignty in post-pandemic Aotearoa/New Zealand?
This theme examines how the Covid-19 pandemic accentuated and reconfigured the practices and discourses of settler colonial bordering in New Zealand, exposing historic continuities in Indigenous dispossession and racialized governance. Research focuses on the intersection of state-enforced border regimes, Indigenous tino rangatiratanga, kinship ethics, and environment-based sovereignty, analyzing how intensified bordering practices during the pandemic exacerbated racial and social inequalities but also opened possibilities for new social alliances among Indigenous peoples, migrants, and colonized communities. Understanding this dynamic is vital for grasping contemporary nation-building, resistance, and reimagining post-pandemic futures within settler colonial contexts.
3. How does linguistic racism manifest in New Zealand's public discourse toward te reo Māori, and what are its implications for Indigenous language revitalization?
This theme addresses the social and political dynamics underpinning linguistic racism targeted at te reo Māori, exploring its roots in settler colonial history and its persisting effect on language hierarchies. It interrogates the overt and covert opposition to Māori language normalization by Pākehā New Zealanders, particularly older generations, situating these attitudes within broader frameworks of racialized and nationalist identity politics. This research matters because it reveals how language discrimination operates as a mode of cultural racism, affecting revitalization efforts and the broader recognition of Māori cultural rights in a settler colonial society.
4. How do biopolitical policies and social narratives influence treaty debates and race relations in contemporary New Zealand?
This theme explores political and social contestations surrounding the Treaty of Waitangi, including contemporary legislative proposals such as the Principles of the Treaty Bill and their reception by diverse societal actors, including religious leaders and political parties. The research evaluates how these debates intersect with issues of Indigenous sovereignty, social justice, and race relations, highlighting the role of political rhetoric, church influence, and public discourse in shaping national identity and reconciliation processes. Understanding these dynamics is essential for navigating the evolving landscape of Indigenous-settler relations in New Zealand’s polity.
5. How have forced labor and settler colonial infrastructure projects shaped socio-ecological relations and Indigenous dispossession in New Zealand's central plateau?
This theme investigates the historical interplay between settler colonial infrastructure development, specifically prisoner-built highways, and ecological as well as Indigenous social relations in New Zealand’s central plateau region. It situates imperial capital accumulation within broader ecological regimes that incorporate both human and extra-human nature, emphasizing commodity frontiers and ongoing primitive accumulation. This intersection elucidates how colonial exploitation transcended simple economic terms, embedding itself in social, environmental, and racial contexts that continue to shape contemporary landscapes and Indigenous dispossession.
6. What are the implications of revisiting and differentiating the multiple Treaty of Waitangi sheets for Indigenous sovereignty and settler colonial legal frameworks?
This theme critically reexamines the Treaties of Waitangi not as a single monolithic document but as multiple differentiated treaties signed by distinct hapū and iwi with the British Crown. It challenges dominant legal and governmental narratives that privilege the English Treaty as the normative text, arguing instead for recognition of the plurality and sovereignty of Māori groups as reflected in the various Treaty sheets. This reconsideration has profound implications for treaty principles, Indigenous rights claims, and the decolonization of New Zealand’s legal and political systems.
7. How do overlooked early Māori-Russian encounters expand historiographical understandings of New Zealand’s pre-colonial and cross-cultural interactions?
This theme uncovers early 19th-century encounters between Māori and Russian explorers, a neglected area in New Zealand historiography often centered on British and European contact narratives. By translating and analyzing primary Russian sources, researchers explore perceptions, interactions, and linguistic exchanges involving key Māori chiefs and officers during voyages predating formal colonization. This research provides nuanced insights into Māori agency, intercultural diplomacy, and the broader geopolitical context of Pacific exploration, enriching the tapestry of New Zealand's early colonial history.
8. How do social indicators and wellbeing metrics evolve in New Zealand to capture family and whānau wellbeing amid shifting societal contexts?
This theme explores the development, decline, and subsequent revival of social indicators and reporting frameworks in New Zealand, tracing their methodological challenges and political contexts. It evaluates the contributions of projects such as the Family and Whānau Wellbeing Project, which foreground Indigenous and family-centered wellbeing dimensions, augmenting traditional indicators. The research addresses how effective measurement tools link to social policy, enable equity-driven interventions, and respond to changing demographic and cultural realities.
9. What are the socio-political critiques surrounding New Zealand’s proposed gene technology legislation in relation to agriculture, labeling, and the ‘clean and green’ national identity?
This theme critiques the 2024 Gene Technology Bill in New Zealand, focusing on its ambiguous regulatory scope regarding genetic modification in agriculture and food systems. Research interrogates concerns over potential dilution of the country’s ‘clean and green’ brand, consumer rights pertaining to GMO labeling, and the delegation of regulatory power to a single ‘Gene Technology Regulator’. It also surveys the implications of the Bill’s approach for agricultural sustainability, market confidence, and national identity tied to environmental values.