Kaupapa Māori research

Kaupapa Māori literally means a Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) agenda or way. Its emergence in the academy through the theorisation of Māori immersion education has spread to other interventions that are by, with and for Māori. This has been accompanied by Kaupapa Māori research and the strengthening of Māori knowledge production, including Māori methodologies and ethical considerations, alongside the critique of societal barriers to Māori vitality. Kaupapa Māori research affirms the sovereign status of Māori and sees research as a tool for decolonisation and the return of our territories. Kaupapa Māori research is described here using the language of inquiry paradigms where ontology, or being Māori, is prioritised. Being Māori is about whakapapa (genealogical) relationships, and this world is known through mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge). The maintenance of relationships and the protection of mātauranga inscribe how we relate to one another during research and the way research inquiry is undertaken. Research methods are chosen for their ability to represent Māori well, including giving voice to those who are most vulnerable. In this way, Kaupapa Māori research is controlled by Māori so that it might benefit Māori and be a tool for decolonisation and researching ourselves back to life and vitality.