Mฤori have a long history of innovation based on mฤtauranga and tikanga โ the knowledge and values passed down from ancestors. Yet Western science has routinely failed to acknowledge the contribution of Indigenous peoples and their vital worldviews.ย
Drawing on the experiences of researchers and scientists from diverse backgrounds, this book raises two important questions. What contribution can mฤtauranga make to addressing grand challenges facing New Zealand and the world? And in turn, how can Western science and technology contribute to the wellbeing of Mฤori people and lands?ย
Dr Katharina Ruckstuhl (Ngฤi Tahu, Rangitฤne) is an Associate Dean Mฤori at the Otago Business School, University of Otago, Dunedin. Her role in the Business School focuses on strategic empowerment of Mฤori students and staff with a particular focus on Mฤori entrepreneurship. She has strong connections to her tribal group of Ngฤi Tahu. Dr Ruckstuhl co-leads the Building New Zealandโs Innovation social science research of the National Science Challenge, Science for Technological Innovation. She is also the Vision Mฤtauranga (Mฤori knowledge) leader, a theme that crosses all of the Challengeโs research activities. She has published in the areas of: Mฤori language; resource extraction in Mฤori territories; Mฤori entrepreneurship in SMEs; Indigenous science and technology and Indigenous knowledge.
Merata Kawharu (Ngฤti Whฤtua, Ngฤpuhi) is an academic, researcher and writer who is currently Research Professor at the Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin. After completing a doctorate in anthropology at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, she has taught at Auckland and Otago universities, and published widely in the areas of indigenous leadership and resource management. Merata Kawharu has been a consultant to the UN and UNESCO and is a member of the New Zealand Geographic Board. Her books includeย Whariki, with Paul Tapsell,ย Whenua: Managing our Resources, Tahuhu Kลrero: The Sayings of Taitokerauย andย Maranga Mai! Te Reo and Marae in Crisis?ย In 2012 she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Mฤori education.
Maria Amoamo (Whakatลhea) is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Business at Otago University. Her research specialisation area is cultural and indigenous tourism with publications exploring themes of social capital, sovereignty and self-determination, resilience and sustainable livelihoods. Since 2016 she has contributed to the Vision Mฤtauranga research theme of the National Science Challenge โBuilding New Zealandโs Innovation Capacityโ drawing on organisational management theory to examine elements of Mฤori social and economic development with the intention of understanding the modes of economy and innovation capability within which Mฤori enterprise operate.