AlterNative

This research hypothesized that respondents who have a good understanding of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) are those with a secure cultural identity and are more likely to be concerned with the environment.

In this paper we outline philosophical conceptualizations of relationships with language and place. We investigate how place is an essential aspect of language formation and oral tradition. Re-conceptualizing the concept that primary source is inextricably linked to place leads to an eco-hermeneutic analysis of the etymology of language.

Treaty reparation processes are a key characteristic of postcolonial Aotearoa/New Zealand. In 1975 the New Zealand Crown established the Waitangi Tribunal designed to make recommendations on indigenous (Māori) claims regarding breaches of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi (Tiriti o Waitangi).

This paper discusses the dead and non-used Nandi anthroponyms with the aim of highlighting the factors behind their disappearance, non use or declining usage. Although traditionally the Nandi naming system is elaborate and spans a person’s lifetime, present naming practices show that various types of anthroponym have low usage and others are no longer used.

This paper explores the epistemological divide between mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and science, and considers which cultural concepts have relevance when considering the use of embryos in research. We argue that empowerment is a necessary precursor for a dialogue process to be effective and to maintain the cultural dignity and confidence of the participants.

This article comments on the process and results of expanding the vocabulary available for teaching and learning science through the medium of Māori in the specific domain of chemical nomenclature. This commentary argues there is a need to balance language revitalization aims for te reo Māori against the educational aims for Māori medium schooling.