This general issue of MAI Journal, Volume 3, Issue 3 (2014) covers a variety of themes including incarceration, historical trauma, positive youth development, kaupapa Māori methods of research, indigenous research ethics and iwi vitality.
The lead article by Lily George, Elaine Ngamu, Maria Sidwell, Mal Hauraki, Nikki Martin-Fletcher, Lucy Ripia, Rangi Davis, Poihaere Ratima and Hiki Wihongi titled “Historical Trauma and Contemporary Rebuilding for Māori Women with Experiences of Incarceration” draws from research with Māori women who have experiences of incarceration and key informants who have worked with Māori in the criminal justice system and/or in communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
In a similar vein, the following article by Rebecca Wirihana and Cherryl Smith entitled “Historical Trauma, Healing and Well-Being in Māori Communities” focuses on the intergenerational transfer of historical trauma. It situates Māori experiences in the growing body of international historical trauma research and outlines methods used to promote healing from trauma.
In their article “Te Kete Whanaketanga―Rangatahi: A Model of Positive Development for Rangatahi Māori”, Hinekura Simmonds, Niki Harré and Sue Crengle explore what indicates and contributes to positive development for Māori youth. Te Kete Whanaketanga―Rangatahi is presented as a model for practitioners and researchers.
In their contribution to the issue titled “The Use of Exercise Physiology in the Advancement of Māori Well-Being: The Application of Kaupapa in Lab-Based Research”, Isaac Warbrick, Amohia Boulton, Stephen Stannard and Chris Cunningham discuss the intersection between kaupapa Māori methods of research and those traditionally used in exercise physiology. It is argued that exercise science has the potential to bridge Indigenous and Western approaches to research, informing both the prevention and the treatment of lifestyle illnesses that impact significantly on Māori communities.
In her article titled “Utilising Kaupapa Māori Approaches to Initiate Research”, Tangiwai Rewi explores the insider-outsider dichotomy in research and explores the advantages and disadvantages of both positions. The article discusses whanaungatanga as a recruitment methodology and the significance of kanohi kitea in relationships with research participants.
Barry Smith and Martin Tolich examine recent changes to health ethics oversight in New Zealand in their article “A Cultural Turn: The Trivialisation of Indigenous Research Ethics in New Zealand Post-2012 Health and Disability Ethics Committees”. The findings suggest that indigenous research ethics and consultation with Māori has been marginalised and trivialised.
The final contribution by Jodi Porter and Mihi Ratima titled “Ka Pīoioi i te Tihi o Ngā Kahikatea Measuring Ngāi Tai Iwi Vitality” presents a framework for measuring iwi vitality in a way that is consistent with iwi values and aspirations. The framework aims to support iwi in measuring progress in a way that meets demands for accountability and evidence-based approaches, whilst maintaining a focus on the outcomes that are at the heart of their aspirations for collective vitality.