Māori and Indigenous Studies Papers

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/36

This collection houses research from Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao - Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, at the University of Waikato.

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Te Kahautu Maxwell | Te Matatini Mātaatua representative [Interviewed by Dale Husband]
(Radio Waatea, 2024) Maxwell, Te Kahautu
This weekend in the Bay of Plenty, twenty-two kapa haka teams, including the reigning Te Matatini winners, showcased some of the nation’s best kapa haka performers during the Mātaatua senior regional tournaments.
Te kōrero kāpehu whenua planning for te whakatōhea kai (food) security
(2025) Davis, Shannon; Maxwell, Te Kahautu; Hata, Hope; Morris, Richard
Oral presentation from the Adaptation Futures Conference held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, Ōtautahi Christchurch.
“It is about enabling Tino Rangatiratanga and Mana Motuhake”: An analysis of submissions on the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill 2021 endorsing a Māori health authority
(2025) Edmonds, Moengaroa; Tan, Kyle K. H.; Simon, Hemopereki; Black, Rose; Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Rae, Ngaire
Indigenous leadership in healthcare is one way for Indigenous peoples to exercise sovereignty over their health. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the establishment of the Māori Health Authority (MHA) was grounded in a decades-long imperative to address Māori health inequities and operationalise te Tiriti o Waitangi within the health system. However, the populist National-led coalition government formed in November 2023 included the abolishment of the MHA in their first 100-day plan and eventually disestablished it in February 2024. This study analysed 155 public group submissions on the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill made in 2021 and representing health professionals, iwi, hapū, and community groups. Core themes endorsing the MHA as a statutory entity included honouring te Tiriti, advocating for Māori-led solutions to health inequities, decolonising health systems, and affirming Indigenous rights. The political decision to remove the MHA is antithetical to the explicit endorsement statements made by an overwhelming majority of group submitters with expertise in health organisational structures and healthcare provision. Our study has implications for future local and international research in documenting counter-narratives for Indigenous struggles in health systems.
Te Kahautu Maxwell on Te Kooti and Ringatu (Interviewed by Tama Muru)
(Radio New Zealand (RNZ), 2025) Maxwell, Te Kahautu
In October 1869 musket fire erupted at Te Porere about sixty kilometres north of here, in the shadow of Mount Tongariro in the last major battle of the New Zealand wars. Armed constabulary and Maori fighters, clashed with the forces of the prophet Te Kooti Arikinui Te Turiki who had built an earth redoubt at Te Porere. It was overwhelmed during the battle, but Te Kooti and his surviving followers escaped. Today the site is a tourist attraction but what also endured is the Ringatu Church, founded by Te Kooti. In 2018 it celebrated its 150th anniversary. Ringatu mixes the Bible with Maori custom and, like Matariki, follows annual cycles such as Te Huamata in June for planting and Te Pure, the harvest, each November. We spoke to Professor Te Kahautu Maxwell , a minister in the Ringatu Church and a senior academic in Maori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato.
Editorial for “Unmasking Racism and Oppression in Psychology” – Part II
(Christchurch New Zealand Psychological Society, 2025) Tan, Kyle K. H.; Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Hamley, Logan
Since publishing the first part of the “Unmasking Racism and Oppression in Psychology” special issue in March 2025, we have received immense aroha and gratitude from colleagues and students eager to learn about the perspectives of Indigenous and minoritised groups in psychology and how they can support the development of an anti-racist discipline. Rather than seeking to prove the existence of racism in the field (Crossing et al., 2024), this issue centres on validating our authors’ experiences of navigating oppression, challenging Eurocentric psychology, resisting assimilation, and remaining grounded in Indigenous ontologies and epistemologies while staying accountable to their communities. Racism in psychology has been called out by many colleagues in Aotearoa (to name a few; Levy & Waitoki, 2016; Love, 2008; Pomare et al., 2021), and this issue responds to their concerns by amplifying solutions for change in the teaching, practice, and research of psychology.
Kai whakakitenga-nui te whakatōhea: Whenua planning for kai security
(2025) Maxwell, Te Kahautu
To exercise Tino Rangatiratanga in our pursuit to define our local food systems through the traditional knowledge and practice of growing kai that will inspire and transform the health and well-being of all Whakatōhea, Whānau, Hapū, Iwi.
Anti-racism Allyship Amongst Psychologists and Students in Psychology Training in Aotearoa New Zealand
(New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, 2025) Tan, Kyle K. H. ; Johansson, Svanté; Hamley, Logan; Waitoki, Waikaremoana
Racism is a well-established social determinant of health, impacting Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, few scholarly studies have focused on racial justice allyship in Aotearoa, particularly within the psychology discipline. This study examines demographic and attitudinal factors associated with anti-racism allyship among psychologists and students in psychology training amidst escalating racist rhetoric and opposition to Māori self-determination in Aotearoa. Drawing data from an online anonymous survey (n = 280), we assessed participants’ responses on three scales: 1) Attitudes towards aspects of Māori (taha Māori); 2) Attitudes towards acknowledging the existence of racism and settler colonialism 3) Anti-racist allyship. Certain demographic groups (Pākehā, Asian, older-aged, male, or those who entered training decades ago) scored lower on these scales, indicating the need for targeted training. Regression analyses showed both ‘Attitudes towards taha Māori’ and ‘Attitudes towards racism and colonisation’ scales were significantly correlated with anti-racist allyship. Our findings call for a sustained investment in training anti-racist psychologists who are competent in providing culturally safe care and capable of challenging racial injustices. Future research is required on the development of a racial justice allyship model across all institutions that train, employ and regulate psychologists in Aotearoa that is informed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Two Decades After Siaan Nathan’s (1999) Study: Revisiting the Responsiveness of Professional Clinical Psychology Programmes
(New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, 2025) Chan, Joanna; Tan, Kyle K. H. ; Hamley, Logan; Waitoki, Waikaremoana ; Scarf, Damian
Clinical psychology training programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand are predominantly monocultural and centred on perspectives from Western Europe and North America. Several initiatives have sought to address the monocultural dominance of Western psychology in training programmes, with limited sustainability. We surveyed clinical psychology programme directors (N=6) to assess the progress of programmes towards meeting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations across five key domains (Māori representation across programme staff and students, advisory group, admissions process and programme content). Promisingly, progress regarding the inclusion of Māori-focused content and faculty representation was identified. However, all directors reported that the increase in Māori student representation was slow, with half (n=3) reporting the number of tauira Māori applicants to programmes was an ongoing concern. The limited progress towards ensuring increased Māori representation was thought to reflect system constraints. The findings highlight the pressing need for clinical psychology training to fulfil Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations to support tino rangatiratanga for Māori that leads to transformative change. Notably, equity for Māori was identified as a priority through the provision of sufficient and sustainable resourcing for kaupapa Māori psychologies.
Piri Pāua: Mātauranga Māori and marine science approach to growth rate and length at maturity of pāua in the Bay of Plenty 2022-2024
(Fisheries New Zealand, 2025) Paul-Burke, Kura; Burke, Joseph; Gerrity, Shawn
Pāua is a highly regarded taonga (culturally important) species. Mai i ngā Kurī ā Whārei ki Tihirau (the Bay of Plenty Regional Iwi Customary Fisheries Forum) raised concerns about the current state of pāua in Te Moana-a-Toi (Bay of Plenty). This project utilised localised intergenerational observations of population dynamics in traditional harvesting areas to assess pāua productivity in the Tauranga Moana Mātaitai Reserve in Tauranga and Te Rohe Moana o Ngāti Awa in Whakatāne. The project combined mātauranga Māori alongside marine science field methods. Results were compared with previous iwi-led research at Tauranga in 2013 and Whakatāne in 2010. The pāua population in 2023 had declined by almost half in Tauranga but remained relatively consistent across all sites in Whakatāne. However, pāua were small sized in both locations, with less than 1% of individuals reaching the Minimum Legal Size (125 mm) for harvesting. Growth rate surveys were conducted in the wild at both locations from June 2023 to the end of May 2024 and identified pāua as slow growing and, as a result, sexually mature at smaller sizes than in other regions of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Māori-focused course content in undergraduate psychology programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand
(Christchurch New Zealand Psychological Society, 2025) Wairoa-Harrison, Sophia; Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Tan, Kyle K. H. ; Hamley, Logan; Stolte, Ottilie; Chan, Joanna; Scarf, Damian
Collaborative processes in the development of the International Competences for Undergraduate Psychology (ICUP) Model
(Wiley, 2025) Cranney, J; Nolan, SA; Job, R; Goedeke, S; Machin, MA; Gullifer, J; Narciss, S; de Souza, LK; Jia, F; Foster, L; Hulme, JA; Illiescu, D; Ju, X; Kojima, J; Kumar, A; Tchombe, TMS; Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Reyes, MES; Boeta Madera, V
Across all nations, undergraduate psychology programmes aim to promote the acquisition of foundational psychology competences. Yet, until recently, a universally recognised model outlining essential competences did not exist. The International Collaboration on Undergraduate Psychology Outcomes (ICUPO) addressed this gap by developing the International Competences for Undergraduate Psychology (ICUP) Model. The aim of this article is to provide guidance about how other groups might successfully approach similar efforts to delineate discipline-specific key competences. We describe the processes that led to the development of the ICUP Model, framed by group development theory (Preparing, Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing Stages), with additional consideration of individual ICUPO Committee member psychological needs for competence, relatedness, and autonomy. Each group development Stage section (a) describes project activities relevant to the characteristics of that Stage, and (b) lists key strategies employed and lessons learned, as well as commentary on psychological needs. To further enhance the value of this endeavour, the Discussion includes (a) commentary on the strengths and limitations of these theories for understanding and enhancing the effectiveness of such project processes, and (b) actionable insights for educational leaders undertaking similar projects.
Exposure to negative LGBT-related media messages as a social determinant of mental health inequities for LGBT+ people in Malaysia
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2025) Tan, Kyle K. H.; Keng, Shian-Ling; Jerome, Collin; Cheah, Wai Hsien
Introduction Media dissemination of anti-LGBT+ sentiments is commonplace in Malaysia. This study examines the prevalence of negative media exposure among LGBT+ people in Malaysia, the association between negative media exposure and mental health outcomes, and the role of negative future expectations for societal unacceptance as a mediator of the association. Method Drawing data from a cross-sectional survey of Malaysia-based LGBT+ adults (n = 675; mean age = 27.78), we conducted a series of regression and mediation analyses to determine whether exposure to negative media messages was predictive of heightened levels of negative future expectations, depression, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicidality. Results More than two-thirds (76%) saw negative LGBT-related messages regularly on newspapers, television, and social media in the past year. Frequent exposure of negative messages on media platforms was positively associated with depression, NSSI, and suicidal ideation. Negative future expectations partially mediated the relationship between exposure to negative messages and mental health outcomes. Conclusions The study highlights the role of negative media messages as a social determinant of mental health inequities for LGBT+ people. The findings call for a multi-level intervention to mobilize members in government sectors, healthcare settings, and academic institutions to discern and actively challenge disinformation targeting LGBT+ communities.
Decolonizing Lamanite Studies – A Critical and Decolonial Indigenist Perspective
(MDPI AG, 2025) Simon, Hemopereki
The emergence of Lamanite Studies exemplifies the need for decolonial and Indigenous-centered reevaluations of Mormon–Indigenous relations. This article advocates for the reclamation of Indigenous identity independent of the constraints imposed by Mormon doctrine. The incorporation of Indigenous genealogies into Mormon theology results in epistemic violence, disconnecting Indigenous peoples from their ancestral identities and substituting the latter with the settler/invader colonial construct of “Lamanite”. This paper advocates for the decolonization of Indigenous identities within Mormonism, emphasizing the need for a radical intervention that prioritizes Indigenous sovereignty and self-definition over the maintenance of colonial categories. I present approaches and scholarship in Lamanite Studies that align with Indigenous land and spiritual repatriation, promoting the restoration of Indigenous epistemologies to Indigenous communities. Theoretical colonialism must be supplemented by grassroots initiatives that empower Indigenous communities to reclaim their spiritual and cultural identities.
Problematic reasoning under the guise of anti-Māori talk: A case study of the Three Waters tweets
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2025) Tan, Kyle K. H.; Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Scarf, Damian; Phillips, Justin Bonest
Drawing from a subset of Twitter/X quotes (or tweets) on the politically controversial Three Waters Reform, this study identified forms of anti-Māori discourse through a deductive analysis. A complementary analysis was conducted to unpack how problematic reasoning fueled racism against Māori. Our results revealed distinct and interconnected themes—“resources,” “culture,” “stirrer,” “privilege,” and “one people”—that portrayed Māori as undeserving, lacking expertise, threatening, and unworthy of equitable treatment, as New Zealand citizens are entitled to enjoy liberal democratic values. Anti-Māori speakers employed problematic reasoning tactics to obstruct the public from understanding the truth or to encourage others to form ill-informed opinions through emotions, supposed authority, and conspiracy. Exemplar tweets were provided to illustrate the myriad instances of false information related to patterns of anti-Māori discourse. Evidence from this study makes the case for addressing racism on social media and creating interventions to expand media literacy amongst the public to discern problematic reasonings.
Unpacking media narratives: Racism and problematic reasonings
(University of Waikato, 2025) Tan, Kyle K. H.; Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Phillips, Justin Bonest; Scarf, Damian
In this research brief, we present summaries of four case studies of racism in mainstream and social media in Aotearoa. Through a series of carefully selected datasets sourced from TV episodes (Police TEN 7), print media such as news articles (including Northland checkpoints), and tweets (Three Waters reform), we outline how Māori are represented across these mediums. With an expert in language modelling on our team, we analysed large datasets that give us sufficient statistical power to infer specific Māori discourses on respective platforms. Further, we examined key themes that characterise how Māori are represented in the media and signal the scale of anti-Māori attacks. For instance, we found that the predominant discussion on Three Waters reform on Twitter focused on ‘conflict’ (distrust towards government; 33%) and ‘capability’ (questioning the credibility of the reform; 23%) rather than its core intention of promoting water ‘safety’ (7%). The modelling analysis was supplemented by in-depth qualitative analysis that integrates anti-Māori themes (Moewaka-Barnes et al., 2012) and problematic reasoning tactics (Sturgill, 2021) to elucidate how false, deficit-based rhetoric about Māori is deployed to fuel racism and disinformation. In summary, our findings reinforce Kupu Taea’s call for new media sectors to integrate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into their practices to safeguard Māori and other minoritised groups who are likely to be at the fore of racist attacks.
The Lancet Commission on self-harm
(Elsevier BV, 2024) Moran, Paul; Chandler, Amy; Dudgeon, Pat; Kirtley, Olivia J.; Knipe, Duleeka; Pirkis, Jane; Sinyor, Mark; Allister, Rosie; Ansloos, Jeffrey; Ball, Melanie A.; Chan, Lai Fong; Darwin, Leilani; Derry, Kate L.; Hawton, Keith; Heney, Veronica; Hetrick, Sarah; Li, Ang; Machado, Daiane B.; McAllister, Emma; McDaid, David; Mehra, Ishita; Niederkrotenthaler, Thomas; Nock, Matthew K.; O'Keefe, Victoria M.; Oquendo, Maria A.; Osafo, Joseph; Patel, Vikram; Pathare, Soumitra; Peltier, Shanna; Roberts, Tessa; Robinson, Jo; Shand, Fiona; Stirling, Fiona; Stoor, Jon P.A.; Swingler, Natasha; Turecki, Gustavo; Venkatesh, Svetha; Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Wright, Michael; Yip, Paul S.F.; Spoelma, Michael J.; Kapur, Navneet; O'Connor, Rory C.; Christensen, Helen
Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose, regardless of the reasons for doing this. Often, shame and stigma stop people from seeking help. Self-harming behaviour increases the risk of death by suicide, and it is a common cause of disability in young people. Currently, people attending health services only represent the tip of the iceberg; the proportion of teenagers self-harming has increased over the past 20 years—this is particularly so for young women and girls. The Lancet Commission on self-harm concludes that our cultures and societies play a major role in driving self-harming behaviours. The public health impact of self-harm has been neglected by governments globally. By delivering transformative shifts in societal attitudes, and initiating radical redesign of mental health care, we can fundamentally improve the lives of people who self-harm. Governments need to act to tackle the societal and commercial determinants of self-harming behaviours. The punishment of people who self-harm must stop. People who self-harm need better access to high-quality, compassionate services for support and treatment. Mainstream and social media outlets need to share information about self-harm responsibly and sympathetically.
Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi through addressing racism in universities
(University of Waikato, 2024-06-30) Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Tan, Kyle K. H.; Hamley, Logan
Executive summary The WERO team conducted two studies on university documents to identify how universities articulate their commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and address inequities for Māori within tertiary education. The first study, which is a case study of a university’s Treaty Statement, highlighted the university’s limitations in empowering Māori to exercise tino rangatiratanga within various decision-making structures. The second study, which scrutinises Māori representation across strategic documents of all universities, revealed that universities reify whiteness by selectively interpreting Te Tiriti articles, pursuing targeted Māori recruitment, portraying Māori as reliant on the Crown for success, commodifying mātauranga Māori, and evading discussions about settler colonialism and racial equity. Drawing from our findings and constitutional transformation documents such as Matike Mai (2016), we proffer three recommendations to enable universities to more effectively uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi: 1. Universities must clearly define the operation of settler colonialism and racism in each institution so that sustainable anti-racist initiatives can be identified. 2. Each university must grow relational spheres where Māori are empowered to make collective decisions with the Crown representatives in the university. 3. Universities must invest in a Māori-led independent body to develop and deliver a Te Tiriti-centric programme that decolonises university processes
Counting ourselves: Findings from the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand trans and non-binary health survey
(Transgender Health Research Lab, University of Waikato, 2025) Yee, Ashe; Bentham, Ryan; Byrne, Jack L.; Veale, Jaimie; Ker, Alex; Norris, Megan; Tan, Kyle K. H.; Jones, Harris; Polkinghorne, Taine; Gonzalez, Sofia; Withey-Rila, Cassie; Wi-Hongi, Ahi; Brown-Acton, Phylesa; Parker, George; Clunie, Moira; Kerekere, Elizabeth; Fenaughty, John; Treharne, Gareth; Carroll, Rona
Counting Ourselves is a comprehensive national survey of the health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary people aged 14 and older living in Aotearoa New Zealand. The survey takes place every four years. We report findings from 2,631 trans and non-binary people who completed our second survey in 2022. This is more than double the 1,178 survey participants from our first survey in 2018 and gives us very strong data about a range of trans and non-binary people living in Aotearoa New Zealand. The 2022 survey participants lived in all regions of Aotearoa New Zealand and ranged in age from 14 to 86. Most were either youth aged 14–24 (53%) or adults aged 25–54 (43%). Over half (56%) of participants were non-binary, with an equal mix of trans men (22%) and trans women (22%). Compared with the general population, the survey had a higher proportion of European participants (77%), a similar proportion of Māori (14%), and a lower proportion of Asian (7%) and Pasifika (2%) participants. More than two out of five (42%) of our participants were disabled. This included people who identified as Deaf or disabled (29%) and/or who met the definition of disability used in Stats NZ’s population surveys (38%). This was higher than the Stats NZ measure of disability in the general population (10%). Throughout the report we identify statistically significant differences between participants based on age, gender, ethnicity, location, or disability. In 2025, the Counting Ourselves team hopes to produce fact sheets, articles, and other resources looking at the key findings for Māori, Pasifika, Asian, and disabled trans and non-binary people. In this report we use the term gender affirming healthcare to refer to any healthcare interventions that trans or non-binary people may require to affirm their gender. We also use the term unmet need to describe the percentage of all participants who wanted but had not had a type of gender affirming healthcare.
WERO: A pānui for tauira Māori in psychology
(Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao, University of Waikato, 2024-06-03) Waitoki, Waikaremoana; Tan, Kyle K. H.; Hamley, Logan; Chan, Joanna; Jones, Susana; Townsend, Tiari; Wairoa-Harrison, Sophia; White, Te Aorere
The first WERO pānui was edited in 1991 by the first Māori in psychology at Waikato University, Stephanie Palmer and Linda Waimarie Nikora. This pānui is the third in the WERO series, aiming to continue the legacy of the first publication in 1991 (edited by Stephanie Palmer) and the second in 1992 (edited by Hikitapua). The pānui continues to center diverse Māori perspectives with relevance for those affected by racial oppression in psychology.
Beyond Pākehā paralysis: Exploring the journeys & experiences of Pākehā allyship in psychology
(New Zealand Psychological Society Inc., 2025) Stolte, Ottilie Emma Elisabeth; Tan, Kyle K. H.; Scarf, Damian; Black, Rose
The monocultural foundation of psychology is interwoven with the colonial history of Aotearoa New Zealand. Not all of the mahi of decolonising psychology is the responsibility of Māori. In Aotearoa, there is currently less literature around the development of racial justice allyship and how Pākehā (as the dominant majority) can work towards honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This paper draws on interviews with three Pākehā allies who have taken actions towards greater inclusion of Māori and raising awareness of systemic injustices and racial disparities. The objective of this paper is to document the understandings shared by these ‘reluctant allies’, focusing on the challenges, possibilities, and suggestions for a more culturally relevant psychological education and practice for Aotearoa New Zealand.

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