The International Indigenous Research Conference (IIRC 2024), hosted by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, was held at Waipapa Taumata Rau, (University of Auckland) from November 12 to 15, 2024, providing a forum for dialogue and exploration for Indigenous research communities. The conference brought together over 600 participants, Māori and manuhiri tūārangi (international guests) under the theme Whītiki Taua or Research Solidarities.
Among those attending were nine staff members from Whakauae. Research Director Amohia contributed two papers focused on Indigenous health and wellbeing. Her first presentation, “Te Ao Rauropi: A Biosphere of Rongoā Māori” explored the relationship of Rongoā as both a way of being and a framework for wellbeing. In this presentation, she introduced a model that illustrates how the various dimensions of Rongoā, encompassing both practice and philosophy, are woven together as a whole.
In her second paper, “Commissioning Indigenous Health Evaluations—Including Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing”, Amohia presented the work she is doing with a multi-centre team of Australian evaluators who are looking at refining the commissioning process of health evaluations. The insights gained from her research aim to enhance both the quantity and quality of research evaluations.
Utiku Potaka, Principal Investigator for Rapua, delivered a presentation titled “Kia wetewetea ngā here a te Pākehā; Casting off the shackles of Pākehā governance” In this talk he narrated a story of resistance and mana motuhake, offering historical context, about Ngāti Hauiti and Mōkai Pātea. He highlighted examples of self-determination and autonomy exercised by hapū and iwi, both before and following colonial influences.
Rapua Research Assistant, Luke Enoka explored the theme of language reclamation in his presentation, “Te Remu Huia; reclaiming huia bird narratives with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hauiti”. He illustrated how huia narratives and oral traditions inform and guide the Rūnanga as they create a leadership, governance, and decision-making model.
Stacey Ruru, also a researcher with the Rapua team, presented her PhD work titled “Wahine rangatira and mentoring: their views and experiences”. In her presentation, she shared how kaupapa Māori values informed her engagement with wāhine through interviews. She also discussed preliminary findings surrounding tuakana/teina and mentor relationships.
Logan Hamley, Senior Researcher and Intern Lead, contributed to two panels, one of which, “Strengthening Indigenous Data Sovereignty Through Global Solidarity”, he presented alongside long-time colleague Andrew Sporle. Together they outlined the history of the Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement in Aotearoa and their respective involvement with Te Mana Raraunga before posing some challenges for the future. Logan also participated in a panel discussion called “Becoming Sexual Beings: A Panel of Pūkenga”, which explored the strategies rangatahi tāne use to frame positive identities as part of his PhD research.
Together with Cinnamon Lindsay, Senior Researcher for Tō Mātou Kāinga, Logan co-authored a paper titled “Rangatahi Māori and the Whānau Chocolate Box”. This paper was presented by Te Maringi Mai o Hawaiiki and detailed the practical applications of the Whānau Chocolate Box model for engaging with rangatahi in conversations about hauora.
Additionally, Ben Barton, our newest Whakauae researcher, chaired a panel for Pūrangakura, titled “Generation Kāinga: Co-creating a Kaupapa Rangatahi Research Methodology”, contributing to the conversations surrounding research methodologies with rangatahi Māori.
The conference also welcomed an environment of whakawhaungatanga, allowing for discussions beyond formal presentations and panels. Through Whakauae’s existing relationships with Dr. Ying-tzu Ena Chang and Tana Takisvilainan (Panay Kumod), we were particularly fortunate to meet and spend some time with Ena’s colleagues from National Dong Hwa University including Sifo Lakaw, Umin Itei and Wasiq Silan as well as Pisuy Bawney a Tayal woman studying at Victoria University of Wellington alongside Tana. This engagement revealed commonalities between our research methodologies, and shared visions, laying a foundation for potential collaborative projects in the near future that could mutually benefit our communities.
Due to Covid-19, this conference has not been held in a face-to-face setting for six years. The team appreciated the ability to meet together and catch up with colleagues who they had not seen in many years, as well as listen to, and engage with, the work of new and up and coming researchers. As ever, this wholly Indigenous conference replenished our academic and wairua kūmete, and certainly fulfilled the vision of Whītiki Taua.
Photo credits: Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga e-pānui, Whiringa-ā-rangi 2024.
Left to Right: Che Wilson greets manuhiri at the pōwhiri for the IIRC 2024. Abigail Echo-Hawk's keynote presentation at IIRC2024. The delegates at the conclusion of the pōwhiri IIRC2024.
The International Indigenous Research Conference (IIRC 2024), hosted by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, was held at Waipapa Taumata Rau, (University of Auckland) from November 12 to 15, 2024, providing a forum for dialogue and exploration for Indigenous research communities. The conference brought together over 600 participants, Māori and manuhiri tūārangi (international guests) under the theme Whītiki Taua or Research Solidarities.
Among those attending were nine staff members from Whakauae. Research Director Amohia contributed two papers focused on Indigenous health and wellbeing. Her first presentation, “Te Ao Rauropi: A Biosphere of Rongoā Māori” explored the relationship of Rongoā as both a way of being and a framework for wellbeing. In this presentation, she introduced a model that illustrates how the various dimensions of Rongoā, encompassing both practice and philosophy, are woven together as a whole.
In her second paper, “Commissioning Indigenous Health Evaluations—Including Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing”, Amohia presented the work she is doing with a multi-centre team of Australian evaluators who are looking at refining the commissioning process of health evaluations. The insights gained from her research aim to enhance both the quantity and quality of research evaluations.
Utiku Potaka, Principal Investigator for Rapua, delivered a presentation titled “Kia wetewetea ngā here a te Pākehā; Casting off the shackles of Pākehā governance” In this talk he narrated a story of resistance and mana motuhake, offering historical context, about Ngāti Hauiti and Mōkai Pātea. He highlighted examples of self-determination and autonomy exercised by hapū and iwi, both before and following colonial influences.
Rapua Research Assistant, Luke Enoka explored the theme of language reclamation in his presentation, “Te Remu Huia; reclaiming huia bird narratives with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hauiti”. He illustrated how huia narratives and oral traditions inform and guide the Rūnanga as they create a leadership, governance, and decision-making model.
Stacey Ruru, also a researcher with the Rapua team, presented her PhD work titled “Wahine rangatira and mentoring: their views and experiences”. In her presentation, she shared how kaupapa Māori values informed her engagement with wāhine through interviews. She also discussed preliminary findings surrounding tuakana/teina and mentor relationships.
Logan Hamley, Senior Researcher and Intern Lead, contributed to two panels, one of which, “Strengthening Indigenous Data Sovereignty Through Global Solidarity”, he presented alongside long-time colleague Andrew Sporle. Together they outlined the history of the Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement in Aotearoa and their respective involvement with Te Mana Raraunga before posing some challenges for the future. Logan also participated in a panel discussion called “Becoming Sexual Beings: A Panel of Pūkenga”, which explored the strategies rangatahi tāne use to frame positive identities as part of his PhD research.
Together with Cinnamon Lindsay, Senior Researcher for Tō Mātou Kāinga, Logan co-authored a paper titled “Rangatahi Māori and the Whānau Chocolate Box”. This paper was presented by Te Maringi Mai o Hawaiiki and detailed the practical applications of the Whānau Chocolate Box model for engaging with rangatahi in conversations about hauora.
Additionally, Ben Barton, our newest Whakauae researcher, chaired a panel for Pūrangakura, titled “Generation Kāinga: Co-creating a Kaupapa Rangatahi Research Methodology”, contributing to the conversations surrounding research methodologies with rangatahi Māori.
The conference also welcomed an environment of whakawhaungatanga, allowing for discussions beyond formal presentations and panels. Through Whakauae’s existing relationships with Dr. Ying-tzu Ena Chang and Tana Takisvilainan (Panay Kumod), we were particularly fortunate to meet and spend some time with Ena’s colleagues from National Dong Hwa University including Sifo Lakaw, Umin Itei and Wasiq Silan as well as Pisuy Bawney a Tayal woman studying at Victoria University of Wellington alongside Tana. This engagement revealed commonalities between our research methodologies, and shared visions, laying a foundation for potential collaborative projects in the near future that could mutually benefit our communities.
Due to Covid-19, this conference has not been held in a face-to-face setting for six years. The team appreciated the ability to meet together and catch up with colleagues who they had not seen in many years, as well as listen to, and engage with, the work of new and up and coming researchers. As ever, this wholly Indigenous conference replenished our academic and wairua kūmete, and certainly fulfilled the vision of Whītiki Taua.
Photo credits: Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga e-pānui, Whiringa-ā-rangi 2024.
Left to Right: Che Wilson greets manuhiri at the pōwhiri for the IIRC 2024. Abigail Echo-Hawk's keynote presentation at IIRC2024. The delegates at the conclusion of the pōwhiri IIRC2024.
