Working at the interface of Te Ao Māori and social science

Abstract

This article will explore working at the interface between Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and social science. How do we navigate encounters between Te Ao Māori and social science in a manaenhancing or empowering way? How do we build capabilities for social science research that are grounded in Te Ao Māori and are transformative for Māori communities? This article responds to these questions using Māori understandings derived from the whakapapa (genealogical) sequence Te Kore–Te Pō–Te Ao Mārama and the ritual of pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony). Māori thinking, concepts and politics are used to disrupt and reimagine our understanding of social science and create he ātea—a place/space-scape from where we can engage in a form of social science that is distinct to Aotearoa/New Zealand and reflects the expectations and aspirations of Māori people.