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'Mātauranga Māori' are terms used refer to a body of knowledge that was first brought to these islands by ancestors of present day Māori. Here it grew, changed and flourished according to life in these islands. With the arrival of the European, however, it was greatly impacted upon and it changed dramatically over the course of two centuries. During the 20th century, it became endangered in many ways, however, it never entirely disappeared. Today, important fragments and portions of mātauranga Māori – notably the Māori language – remain with us. These remnants are catalysing a renewed interest in mātauranga Māori and its potential contribution to New Zealand and the world.
Explore the page entitled 'Terminology; to read further concerning meanings of the terms 'mātauranga Māori'.
Today, new research and scholarship is exploring this body of knowledge in a variety of ways. Themes of particular interest include:
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Worldview (āronga, kaupapa, tikanga) particularly as this relates to distinctive cultural behaviours (tikanga Māori
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Perspectives on knowledge and knowing
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Processes for the creation of knowledge (wānanga)
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Mātauranga Māori in society
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Mātauranga Māori and indigenous knowledge worldwide
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Mātauranga Māori and other bodies of knowledge (science, for example)
These themes are being explored in a comprehensive way in a range of research settings. MKTA is currently convening a project called 'Te Kaimānga: Towards a New Vision for Mātauranga Māori'. This is a major research project funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. For further information, please see Te Kaimānga. |
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