4.
Maatauranga Maaori
We support projects specifically identified as Maatauranga Maaori. However Maatauranga
Maaori may be supported in any of the funding areas outlined and, where appropriate, this
should be acknowledged.
Maatauranga Maaori is usually used to mean ‘Maaori knowledge’ – distinctive knowledge
created by Maaori in history and arising from their living circumstances, their world view and
their experiences. From this perspective, one might think of a basket in which a wide range
of knowledge items can be found (whakapapa, koorero, waiata etc.). The name of the basket
itself is ‘Maatauranga Maaori’. Hence, these terms are used to circumscribe the totality of
the knowledge and knowing created by Maaori of the past. Maatauranga Maaori can also
refer to, usually, sacred and specialised knowledge that was not the preserve of the common
population but rather it was known by initiated experts only.
Maatauranga Maaori is a relevant and significant ‘way of knowing’ implemented by tangata
whenua that will add value to the restoration of the Waikato River and its catchment.
Projects that either use Maatauranga as a way of understanding and finding solutions to the
issues facing the Waikato River, or seek to restore and reinvigorate traditional knowledge
to maintain the relationship between the Waikato River and its Iwi are an essential part of
using knowledge to achieve the Vision and Strategy.
The Trust encourages applications that recognise the important contribution of Maatauranga
Maaori to the clean-up of the Waikato River and its catchment. Projects that work to
reinvigorate the relationship of the Waikato River Iwi and the Waikato River will be
especially supported. Three key themes have been identified:
i.
The improvement of the health and well-being of the Waikato River through the practice
and implementation of Kaitiakitanga by its Iwi
ii. The collection and dissemination of traditional knowledge relating to the Waikato River
and its Iwi
iii. The development of tools and models that are based on Maatauranga Maaori which
improve the health and well-being of the Waikato River
iv. Restoration and enhancement of the mauri of the waterways in the Waikato River
catchment.
Projects that support Maatauranga Maaori (but are not necessarily limited to):
• Development of cultural health indexes
• Creation of knowledge centres / databases
• Traditional relationships with the environment including Maatauranga Maaori;
• Access, protection, enhancement, and use of sites of significance
• Development of heritage protection inventories
• Development of environmental management plans/strategies as they relate to the
Waikato River and its catchment
• Projects related to restoring or protecting sites associated with taonga, for example,
kohanga sites for inanga spawning
• Development of cultural markers that signify significant sites or boundaries for Iwi,
e.g. pouwhenua
• Extension programmes, templates, and other tools that help support restoration and
protection initiatives
• Projects that seek to acknowledge or work with both Maatauranga Maaori and western
science in improving the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River and its catchment.
Restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River
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