What is Vision Mātauranga?

Vision Mātauranga is a policy framework designed to unlock the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people. The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology developed the policy to guide research investment decisions and provide strategic direction for research of relevance to Māori.

The Vision Mātauranga policy advocates for Māori involvement in research that is relevant to Māori. The ultimate benefits of utilising Māori knowledge can only be fully realised when Māori are authentically and actively involved.

Vision Mātauranga, therefore, fosters opportunities for Māori leadership in research, enhances relationships with Māori, and positions Māori as active participants rather than mere subjects of research.

Read the policy framework from the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology: Vision Mātauranga

There are four main themes:

1. Indigenous innovation - the development of products, processes, systems and services from Māori knowledge, resources and people.
2. Taiao - Achieving sustainability through understanding iwi and hapū relationships with the environment – including kaitiakitanga or guardianship.
3. Hauora and oranga - Providing better health and social wellbeing for Māori through research that meets the distinctive needs of Māori communities.
4. Mātauranga - Exploring indigenous knowledge and research, science and technology and developing a distinctive body of knowledge at the interface between indigenous and western knowledge.

Definition of Mātauranga

Mātauranga refers to the evolving knowledge that Māori hold and produce; Māori ways of knowing encompassing all situations where Māori concepts, values, themes, or perspectives are apparent; is framed by the connection between people and the environment.

The Vision Mātauranga team is here to support researchers. Before contacting the team, researchers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the materials and tools available on He Korowai Mātauranga. These resources support researchers to understand how their work may align with Vision Mātauranga across the research process. Reviewing this material first helps ensure that, where further guidance is needed, the Vision Mātauranga team can provide more focused and effective support during consultation.   

Responsiveness to Māori - Proposal Development Tool

Apply the Vision Mātauranga policy principles and Māori Health Advancement guidelines in your research proposal by using the Responsiveness to Māori - Proposal development tool. This will help demonstrate your research's strengths and identify opportunities to make it more responsive to Māori.

These essential resources on the Vision Mātauranga policy and articles related to Mātauranga Māori provide a foundational understanding for engaging with this knowledge system. Consequently, these materials offer valuable insights into the principles and practices surrounding Mātauranga Māori and how they are integrated into various fields.

We highly recommend reviewing these materials to deepen your knowledge and ensure a well-informed approach to working with Mātauranga Māori.

Mātauranga Māori - the ūkaipō of knowledge in New Zealand

In this article, Dr Dan Hikuroa explores Mātauranga Māori and its differences and comparisons with Western science. Dr Hikuroa notes that while pūrākau and maramataka reflect knowledge generated in line with scientific methods, the critical difference is that Mātauranga Māori incorporates values and is explained through a Māori worldview.

Hikuroa, D. (2017). Mātauranga Māori – the ūkaipō of knowledge in New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 47(1), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/03036758.2016.1252407

Mātauranga and science

In this article, Dr Ocean Mercier explains Mātauranga and explores how research can bridge Mātauranga and Western science. She highlights that Vision Mātauranga is fully realised through the principles of partnership, reciprocity and empowering Māori. Dr Mercier concludes that effective partnerships involve genuine, ongoing co-development with Māori, mutual benefit sharing, and active empowerment, avoiding tokenism and one-sided appropriation in favour of meaningful integration and capability-building.

Mercer, O. (2018). Mātauranga and science. New Zealand Science Review, 74(1), 83-90. https://scientists.org.nz/resources/Documents/NZSR/NZSR74(4).pdf#page=5

For enquiries not related to a research project or ethics application.
Email: rangahau@auckland.ac.nz

Vision Mātauranga Team