Opportunities for postgraduate students to be part of our research teams
Tirohia he Huarahi : Enhancing Participation in Mahinga Kai Management This 3-year Marsden funded research programme will look at the barriers to, and benefits that could arise from, active participation of tangata whenua in the management of mahinga kai. A basic premise of the research is that traditional Māori resource management techniques – including their continued evolution – have much to offer national resource management practices. The research will include case studies where tangata whenua are already actively participating in the planning and management of mahinga kai, and others where this is minimal or non-existent. It will investigate different perspectives (e.g. hapū versus local councils) on what constitutes successful participation in resource management; and different views of the purpose of participation - for example, should participation produce a well-written plan; create positive relationships between hapū, community and government; result in more kai on the table? By bringing these different viewpoints to the fore, and working closely with tangata whenua, we hope to help develop ways to reduce the barriers to the inclusion of traditional techniques in today’s resource management regimes, and identify ways in which tangata whenua might benefit more from this.
Masters student/s (could be one student doing both (a) and (b) below, or two students doing one each).
Topic A research focus:
Review of the current legal and procedural framework for Māori involvement in resource management planning in Aotearoa, the background to introducing the participatory mechanisms, and what the Crown’s intentions were at the time of introducing the various mechanisms so that we gain a clear picture of the design rationale for current planning institutions.
Research methods would include:
(i) document analysis (including legislation, Select Committee records, Hansard, records of consultation and hui)
(ii) interviews of key participants involved in the design of these mechanisms (current or previous senior public servants, politicians and key Māori advisors)
Topic B research focus:
The current level of uptake of formal participatory mechanisms is currently uncertain, due to the fragmented nature of the agencies and schemes. This will be clarified through direct approaches to government departments, local government and iwi. This will enable a high-level identification of what mechanisms are being deployed, but not how effective they are in enabling participation.
Research methods would include: Document analysis and personal communication with holders of this knowledge.
PhD student 2009 – 2011
Topic C research focus:
As viewed by all co-management partners, how successful are the mechanisms for participation by iwi/hapu? What evidence is there of the relevance of the theoretical paradigms that are being explored? Research methods: The field research will involve in-depth case studies in Aotearoa, focusing on Māori participation in the planning and management of mahinga kai areas (and, where relevant, in the wider land and water catchments of these areas).
Note: these are not funded positions, but applications for scholarships can be made through the FRST TTP fund www.frst.govt.nz/funding/students/TTP Some funding is available to support the research activities, and there is also the potential for an exchange with Canadian researchers working in a similar field.
For further information or to apply contact Janet Stephenson on (03) 479-9241 janet.stephenson@otago.ac.nz or c/- nicola.morand@otago.ac.nz
