Tātai Hono

HE KAUPAPA RANGAHAU MŌ NGĀRUAHINE

This was one of three workshops at the Special General Hui held in April. Each workshop focused on a specific kaupapa and together they all contribute to the vision ‘Ka ora taku toa, kia tū Ngāruahine ai tātou - that Ngāruahine iwi is a healthy, wealthy and culturally vibrant iwi’.

In October 2018, Te Korowai o Ngāruahine and a research team (consisting of Ngāruahine uri), partnered in a research project called Tātai Hono. This project brings together Ngāruahine researchers and their expertise to investigate and understand the nuances of our iwi demography and how we are connected and engaged.

The Tātai Hono research project derives its name from a commonly used phrase ‘āpiti hono tātai hono’, sometimes expressed as ‘join the lines together’. Tātai hono, in particular, refers to the bringing together of genealogical lines. Our research seeks to enable the best engagement between the Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust and the people of Ngāruahine.

On Saturday 5 April, Te Korowai o Ngāruahine held their Special General Meeting at Aotearoa Pā. Tātai Hono was one of three featured wānanga (workshops) scheduled. While time was short, the team were still able to run a session with about 20 uri.

We introduced the research kaupapa and set about asking one key question of all those in attendance – What is one word that describes how you feel connected to Ngāruahine iwi?

We were amazed, that in the short time we had with our people, how willing and trusting they were to share their words with us and the narratives behind those words. Some of the words have been included in the graphics above.

There were stories and anecdotes that came along with each of these words and at the next wānanga in August (Annual General Meeting), our hope is to dive deeper into these words and understand what they mean for our people to feel connected to their iwitanga, to their tūrangawaewae, to each other.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT

Tātai Hono is the two year Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga funded research project that aims to build an understanding on how to grow stronger, more connected iwi, through enhancing engagement between Māori governance entities and their members.

Tātai Hono has partnered with Te Korowai to understand Ngāruahine uri, their needs, and to work towards an engagement strategy.

To do this, we plan to conduct a series of qualitative interviews with people in key roles from a range of Māori governance entities to assess how these entities engage with their members and potential members, and identify challenges they face in doing so.

We’ll also develop a demographic profile using statistical analysis of the Census and anonymous iwi register data to create a sketch of Ngāruahine tribal affiliates, and to identify the broad groups of uri (e.g. those of a particular age) who might be missing from the iwi register.

Finally, we’ll conduct an iwi survey to explore current levels of engagement between Te Korowai o Ngāruahine and tribal affiliates, to assess any barriers to engagement, and to identify strategies that might enhance engagement.

Results from all three phases of the research will be used to construct a Ngāruahine engagement strategy.

We recognise that the issues facing Māori governance entities in engaging their members are not new, and neither are they easily solved. Therefore, this research platform should be seen as a starting point to help build research relationships, to contribute to a knowledge base, and to develop further projects in this area in future.

We’re fortunate to have Ngāruahine uri leading this kaupapa, including Dr Arama Rata (Ngāti Tamaahuroa me Tītahi) who is based at NIDEA, the University of Waikato; Dr Will Edwards (Ngāti Tamaahuroa me Tītahi), and Dr Acushla Dee Sciascia (Kanihi-Umutahi, Ōkahu-Inuawai, Ngāti Manuhiakai, Ngāti Haua). Kia tu Ngāruahine ai tātou!

For more information about Tātai Hono, please feel free to contact our Ngāruahine uri researchers:

Dr. Arama Rata (co-lead) Arama.Rata@waikato.ac.nz

Dr. Will Edwards (researcher) wjwedwards@gmail.com

Dr. Dee Sciascia (researcher) acushla.ocarroll@gmail.com