Kaitiakitanga: Active Guardianship

• In Event: Amorangi: Doctoring Our Own

Abstract

The term kaitiakitanga is often used to refer to the active guardianship and management of natural organisms and their environments. Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) positions humans within nature and focuses on the ways in which cultural understandings and interconnections between people and their biophysical contexts assist in the retention and protection of ecologically diverse and sustainably managed ecosystems. Therefore kaitiaki (agents that perform the task of guardianship) are charged with the responsibility to safeguard and manage natural resources for future generations.
This presentation discusses my research experiences as a doctoral student navigating through multiple disciplinary areas of mātauranga Māori, marine ecology, environmental education, marine science field research methods, strategic decision-making, governance, policy development, as well as consultation and engagement with whānau, hapū, iwi, governmental agencies and local communities. Complexities, uncertainties and tensions are examined that exist around those disciplinary areas as they relate to the management of taonga (traditional treasured) species and the dissemination of science information and education awareness.
Growing evidence that accelerated biodiversity decline has a direct negative effect on human well-being (World Wildlife Foundation, 2014), and there is an increasing need to sustain both cultural diversity and ecological diversity. Cultural diversity is related to biodiversity and both are important for improving the sustainability of the world’s ecological systems and perceptions of active responsibility and engagement with and for the world. A holistic Māori worldview of kaitiakitanga places humans within nature and focuses on the ways in which these cultural understandings and interconnections between people and their biophysical contexts produce complex adaptive systems.
This presentation identifies notions of kaitiakitanga and bio-cultural connectivity as important and meaningful contributors for doctoral students and the supervision process. These relationships are reflected in the traditional saying ‘Toi te kupu, toi te mana, toi the whenua, toi te tangata’ (protection of the Māori language, mana, land and the people). Kaitiakitanga as it applies to the doctoral writing process emphasises a relationship that ‘actively’ seeks guardianship responsibility to both the doctoral thesis process, and to the communities in which we engage in.

Author

• Kura Paul-Burke, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi