He Tomokanga Hou Research Project

Brief Description:

Many Māori writers contend that there is a link between wellbeing and how closely you are connected to your Māori culture. They suggest that if you strongly identify as Māori, and actively take part ‘in things Māori’, you are more likely to feel good about being Māori and are more likely to have a positive sense of wellbeing. Anecdotally, Ngāti Hauiti whānau experience a sense of wellbeing associated with identifying as Hauiti and being active ‘in things Māori’.

In January 2017, a collaboration between Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development, the research arm of Ngāti Hauiti, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hauiti saw the development of He Tomokanga Hou, a 17-month research study. The aim of the study, launched soon after, is to explore the link between culture and wellbeing by investigating the process of restoring the tomokanga whakairo at Rātā marae. Supported and sponsored by the iwi leadership, rangatahi have been encouraged to take an active role in the research. Subsequently, rangatahi have been recruited through Te Rūnanga, He Whetu Arataki (the Youth Leadership Programme) along with wider whānau members recruited through Ngāti Hauiti networks. Participants have been exposed to the research process and had  an opportunity to explore how important whakairo, whakapapa, waiata and other “tangible” taonga are, to both young and old.

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Outcomes / Achievements:

Since the project began,  key research related activities have included:

• Preparation of an ethics application, since approved by New Zealand Ethics Committee;
• Conceptualising, designing and carving of the new tomokanga, He Ara ki Puanga, unveiled at a dawn ceremony on 19 November 2017. The unveiling was attended by members of Ngāti Hauiti and the wider Mōkai Pātea confederation, community members, the local Mayor and other dignataries;
• Delivery of a series of wānanga that have included supporting participants associated with the project to gain a deeper understanding of their individual connection to the eponymous ancestor Hauiti, as well as to their respective descent and whānau lines;
• Composition of a waiata, celebrating the creation of the tomokanga, by female iwi members and performed for the first time at the unveiling;
• Preliminary analysis of data collected from participants throughout the course of the research. This analysis suggests that participation has strengthened iwi members ties to Ngāti Hauiti and to Rātā marae. Whakawhanaungatanga, the opportunity to learn whakapapa and the rare chance to physically participate in mahi whakairo were seen as particular benefits of participation.

Analysis of He Tomokanga Hou data is continuing with results to be written up for publication in late 2018.

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