Manākitanga and the Doctoral Supervision Experience

• In Event: Amorangi: Doctoring Our Own

Abstract

In the Māori world, every social activity is imbued with the maintenance of, and enhancement of mana. Manākitanga is the manifestation of this mana and is central to the integrity (Henare, 1988) and trustworthiness of the person, and overall cohesiveness of the social group. There are two objectives of this presentation; the first overviews my doctoral research about cultural identity, focussing upon the discussions enlightening manākitanga as an identity marker for contemporary Māori women. My research concluded that Māori women continue to practice manākitanga in positive ways; that manākitanga is not dependent on knowing and using the Indigenous Māori language, that manākitanga is one of the few practices of cultural identity that affords Maori women a freedom without cultural censure.
More pertinent to this symposium though is that manākitanga is adaptable and transferable to non-tribal and non-Māori situations.
The second objective of the presentation is to examine manākitanga in the academic context of my doctoral supervision experiences at Te Whare Wānanga ō Awanuiārangi (indigenous tertiary institution in Aotearoa/New Zealand). Because of the nature of interpersonal relationships, there are also dynamic elements of power, control and influence (Pere, 1982; Waitere-Ang & Johnston, 1999), and it is from this perspective that I ‘speak to’ and examine my own doctoral supervision experiences for this presentation. Reaching amorangi status, in the Māori world, and at whare wānanga is more than merely completion of a formal academic qualification at its highest level; it becomes a reflection of the way that scholar traverses the intersection between formal academic and cultural relationships.

Author

• Mei Vina Winitana, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi