Maori Association of Social Science: Reflections Peter Adds Te Kawa a Maui

MASS background MASS was formally established in 2008 Nov 2006 BRCSS funded conference of Maori social scientists organised by the Whariki Research Group – Massey Uni.

Scope For our purposes, MASS is defined as ‘a Māori association about the knowledge of and for our communities’ and Māori social scientists are anyone who is a ‘Māori community knowledge bearer’

Purpose To promote and support Māori social scientists; To promote capacity and capability building, research networking and the strengthening of relations among Māori social scientists; To be an authorised voice for Maori social scientists; To promote the strengthening of international relations, knowledge exchanges and collaborations among indigenous social scientists; To promote and support Māori social scientists’ contributions to Aotearoa and international communities; To promote a Māori social science voice; and To provide a forum for Māori social scientists to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern and to debate, critique, evaluate, and analyse Māori-focused research without prejudice.

Objectives Support of scholarship at various levels including community, university, national, and international contexts; Implementation of core fundamentals that are kaupapa Māori based and relative to the field of social science; Provision of a forum to debate, critique, evaluate, and analyse Māori-focused research without prejudice; Maintenance of a strong Māori membership presence in the organisation whilst acknowledging the contributions from other ethnicities.

Values Tikanga – a framework to foster and develop Māori social science Matauranga – Māori knowledge and social science Manaakitanga – support for Māori social scientists Kaitiakitanga – advocacy for Māori social science Whakamana – empowerment of Māori social scientists Kotahitanga – Maori solidarity in Māori social science Te Tiriti o Waitangi – a guiding document for Maori social science

Membership In accordance with its stated purpose, scope and values, the membership of MASS includes: – Māori social scientists or researchers engaged in Māori social science research (as defined in the MASS scope); and – Representatives of institutions that deliver Māori social science-related research services.

Governance MASS is to be governed by a constitution and formal structures. Its governance structure is made up of: – An elected national executive of 13 members, each serving a two-year term, made up of one nominee from each key tertiary institution involved in MASS, plus two nominated affiliate representatives; – A rotating host institution for a term of two years at a time.

Maori Development and MASS Maori must be in a position to produce our own high quality social science research to: – formulate our own development agendas that address a range of the socio-economic disparities affecting Maori – assess and critique the effectiveness of government policy on Maori communities – allow Maori to be responsive and adaptable in fluctuating social and economic milieu – enable Maori to be better informed decision-makers in the Maori-Crown Treaty relationship