Book Review: Ngā Kete Mātauranga Jacqui Thompson*
Ngā Kete Mātauranga: Māori scholars at the research interface Jacinta Ruru & Linda Waimarie Nikora (eds) Otago University Press (February 2021) Writing a book review is a very subjective experience. And that is particularly so when you do not have a lot of experience or a real connection to the subject material, which is the case with this review. I feel totally unqualified to review Ngā Kete Mātauranga because I am not an academic or Māori, and also in part, because of my relatively privileged background.1 However, I am fascinated by this book and the insights it offers. And I hope that fascination will excuse the presumption of writing this review. The book offers a glimpse into a world that I am light years from understanding, and probably can never do so, as I lack the cultural context. I have therefore tried to keep the review descriptive and not to interpret meanings. Ngā Kete Mātauranga is a collection of stories from 24 Māori scholars. The authors describe their own journeys into the world of incorporating Māori knowledge into research in a holistic way. Most of the scholars – but not all - are based in universities around the country. I sent a draft copy of my review to one of the coeditors, Professor Jacinta Ruru, and she was kind enough to respond. She said that the editors had in mind three audiences when writing this book; “1) Māori: to inspire whānau to dream big for their tamariki, that they can go to University and love any discipline and be successful. 2) Tertiary leaders/institutional bosses because the work to make the research sector more welcoming of Māori cannot and should not be the work of Māori scholars alone. To this end we provide eight key messages in conclusion.2 3) The nation: we really really wanted this book to be for everyone, for anyone interested in Māori experiences by Māori who are highly successful across a range of different disciplines to collectively see the strength of our collective experiences and
22
our hope and hurt and optimism for the future (the rollercoaster of experiences).” The book itself is beautiful. The photos by Grant Maiden are stunning. Maiden specialises in photographing people, and his skill in this area clearly shows. Each of the subjects is photographed in a place or with people, pictures or objects that mean something to them. The authors then explain the background to the photo. Often, they are in the places they grew up in as children, moved away from for jobs or family, but were drawn back to as adults. Each picture provides some insight into why and how the authors have developed into who they are. Throughout the book there are drawings contributed by artist Heramaahina Eketone. These show Māori symbols, each telling a story in its own right. Some of them are simple shapes such as the spiral and some are more complex, such as te kete-aronui. Each of them is placed in context of its meaning or relevance. The use of the term scholar is very apt. The authors are not just “academics”, in the sense that they are divorced from everyday life. Their learning informs their relationships and aspirations. But at the foundation is a strong identification with the place from where each scholar comes, and their connection to their whānau, hāpu and iwi. Importantly, as you read through this book, the theme of the loss of whenua carries both poignancy and anger. The world of the Māori academic is not an easy one. According to Professor Ruru, while she has loved her job, it has been hard in a racial way, and intellectually lonely.3 When she started her career as a lecturer, there were about ten Māori teaching in five law schools across the country. Things have not improved with the increase to six law schools. Across all the disciplines, the tertiary sector employs a static 5% Māori. This book therefore has an important role in building understanding and bringing about needed changes in the tertiary sector, where tensions between Māori academics and Universities have been on the rise. In 2020, Waikato University commissioned an independent review into claims of racism and flaws in an employment process undertaken by the leadership. The Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies sent a letter, a statement under Protected Disclosure to the Secretary for Education. The report made some key findings that will not surprise anyone in any institution or company or organisation. It said:4
DECEMBER 2021
