title: Whanaungatanga: an illustration of the importance of cultural context

authors: McNatty, William

subjects: Te reo Māori

abstract: The word 'whanaungatanga' is often used by people who lack an intimate understanding of the philosophical base in Māori culture out of which it emerges. Thus, it is sometimes used simply to describe the camaraderie that can be associated with team sports or with reference to the 'glue' that connects people to one another socially. This is not necessarily a problem in itself. After all, change and development in the lexicon is a characteristic of living languages. However, real problems can emerge where words become divorced from their cultural roots to such an extent that two speakers using the same word can completely fail to understand one another. It is argued here that this is what can happen when Māori words, such as 'whanaungatanga', are used in the context of modelling in the social sciences, particularly where that modelling is conducted in the context of Western social and cultural values. In particular, the essential spiritual dimension of whanaungatanga may be overlooked or misunderstood.

text: Whanaungatanga: an illustration of the importance of cultural context The word 'whanaungatanga' is often used by people who lack an intimate understanding of the philosophical base in Māori culture out of which it emerges. Thus, it is sometimes used simply to describe the camaraderie that can be associated with team sports or with reference to the 'glue' that connects people to one another socially. This is not necessarily a problem in itself. After all, change and development in the lexicon is a characteristic of living languages. However, real problems can emerge where words become divorced from their cultural roots to such an extent that two speakers using the same word can completely fail to understand one another. It is argued here that this is what can happen when Māori words, such as 'whanaungatanga', are used in the context of modelling in the social sciences, particularly where that modelling is conducted in the context of Western social and cultural values. In particular, the essential spiritual dimension of whanaungatanga may be overlooked or misunderstood.

year: 2002-02

title: Data logging and performance analysis software for teachers of indigenous New Zealanders: early results

authors: Barbour, Robert H.

abstract: Technology, in the form of personal computers, is making inroads into everyday life in every part of every nation. It is frequently assumed that this is 'a good thing'. However, there is a need for the people in each cultural group in each nation to appropriate technology for themselves. Indigenous people, such as the Maori of New Zealand/Aotearoa, are in danger of losing their language because technology has a European face. Yet despite the fact that the Maori are currently experiencing a cultural renaissance, there are no commercially available products that are specifically designed for Maori-speaking people.

text: Data logging and performance analysis software for teachers of indigenous New Zealanders: early results Technology, in the form of personal computers, is making inroads into everyday life in every part of every nation. It is frequently assumed that this is 'a good thing'. However, there is a need for the people in each cultural group in each nation to appropriate technology for themselves. Indigenous people, such as the Maori of New Zealand/Aotearoa, are in danger of losing their language because technology has a European face. Yet despite the fact that the Maori are currently experiencing a cultural renaissance, there are no commercially available products that are specifically designed for Maori-speaking people.

year: 1992

title: Recent changes to conservation of New Zealand’s native biodiversity

authors: Jay, Grace Mairi M.

subjects: biodiversity

abstract: This paper presents some observations about recent changes to conservation in New Zealand.  It is influenced by practical experience over the past 15 years, first as conservation planner employed by the Department of Conservation, then as an environmentalist involved in community conservation projects.  It looks at the development of public-private partnerships in conservation action over the past fifteen years. These changes point to the configuration of new landscapes although the diverse and uncoordinated nature of many contemporary initiatives suggest that future biological communities will comprise a diversity of hybrid mixes from predominantly native to fully non-native species.

text: Recent changes to conservation of New Zealand’s native biodiversity This paper presents some observations about recent changes to conservation in New Zealand.  It is influenced by practical experience over the past 15 years, first as conservation planner employed by the Department of Conservation, then as an environmentalist involved in community conservation projects.  It looks at the development of public-private partnerships in conservation action over the past fifteen years. These changes point to the configuration of new landscapes although the diverse and uncoordinated nature of many contemporary initiatives suggest that future biological communities will comprise a diversity of hybrid mixes from predominantly native to fully non-native species.

year: 2005