New editors for MAI Journal

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) announces the appointment of two new editors of MAI Journal: A New Zealand Journal of Indigenous Scholarship.

Dr Maria Bargh and Associate Professor Helen Moewaka Barnes take over editorship of the Journal, published by NPM, from Professor Mike Walker and Dr Tracey McIntosh. MAI Journal publishes multidisciplinary peer-reviewed articles around indigenous knowledge and development in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Journal is published online and all content is free to access.

Launched in 2012, MAI Journal evolved from MAI Review and complements AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, which is also published by NPM and has Professor Walker and Dr McIntosh as Editors. They have decided now is the time to hand over the reins.

“MAI Journal needs editors whose primary focus is the Journal and who can ensure it will grow. We are confident that, with the support of the Editorial Board, the new editors are a strong team,” says Professor Walker.

Dr McIntosh says MAI Journal meets the needs and aspirations of Māori and is a vehicle to provide Māori-centred perspectives that create momentum for new research and collaborations.

“Māori research is well placed to inform and influence new indigenous knowledge production, innovative research and shape policy formations for the future. Associate Professor Moewaka Barnes and Dr Bargh bring considerable expertise, and their leadership will benefit both the Journal and the research community.”

Incoming editor Dr Bargh says she is excited about taking up the role. "The Journal has a unique place in that it is grounded in Aotearoa, it’s a New Zealand journal, but it isn’t limited by just focussing inwards – it acknowledges our connections with other indigenous peoples, who might be from the Pacific or other places. MAI Journal is read domestically and internationally, and fills an important place in being able to articulate ideas and issues that are appropriate to our context."

Associate Professor Moewaka Barnes says the Journal plays an important role in disseminating Māori scholarship, but also has much wider applicability. “I’m excited about this opportunity and hope to be able to support and encourage a diverse range of contributions.”

Dr Maria Bargh (Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa) has a PhD in Political Science and International Relations from the Australian National University. She is a senior lecturer in Māori Studies at Victoria University and editor of Māori and Parliament (2010) Wellington: Huia Publishers and Resistance: an Indigenous Response to Neoliberalism (2007) Wellington: Huia Publishers.

Associate Professor Helen Moewaka Barnes (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Hine) is Director of Te Rōpū Whāriki and Co-Director of the SHORE and Whāriki Research Centre based at Massey University in Auckland. She has experience in quantitative and qualitative methods, research design, and project management. She has particular expertise in the fields of Māori health, Māori methods and methodologies, research ethics and tikanga, community engagement and Māori research capacity building. Her research areas include life course approaches to health and wellbeing, health services research, identity, whānau ora, growing Māori and Pacific research capacity and research use; developing methods and methodologies within Māori paradigms and evaluation research.