Evaluation with Māori

Different cultures represent different ways of seeing the world. This section includes some resources to guide evaluation and other research with Māori.  It also includes some examples of specifically kaupapa Māori research.

Research and evaluation in Aotearoa New Zealand may not involve Māori; it may contain limited information on Māori or have limited involvement by Māori; it may focus on Māori; or it may be kaupapa Māori (with maximum analysis, involvement and control by Māori) (Cunningham, 1998).

Te Puni Kōkiri (the Ministry of Māori Development) has developed Evaluation for Māori: Guidelines for Government Agencies (Word, 208kb, May 1999).  This

• looks at why evaluate for Māori and applies Cunningham's four-type framework (above) for considering Māori involvement in evaluation,
• identifies ethical issues that arise when conducting evaluations important to or involving Māori, and
• identifies implications for Māori in each of the critical stages of an evaluation: planning, design, analysis, reporting, and communicating results. 

Each section includes a useful checklist and critical success factors.

Te Puni Kōkiri commissions and undertakes research itself on a range of subjects related to Māori development, for example

• Well-being and Disparity in Tamaki Makaurau,
• Iwi and Maori Provider Success (PDF, 1.39mb), 
• Māori Specific Outcomes and Indicators (Word, 998kb), and
• The Dynamics of Ethnicity Reporting: Māori in New Zealand (PDF, 1.23mb).

Te Puni Kōkiri also publishes

• reviews of other government agencies' service delivery to Māori, 
• audits of selected government programmes - including an audit of the Māori Knowledge and Development Research Output Class (PDF, 346kb)of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology in 2003,
• useful Fact Sheets and 
• other statistical reports on Māori in New Zealand.

The Centre for Social Research and Evaluation in the Ministry of Social Development has developed Guidelines for Research and Evaluation with Māori (PDF, 525kb).  These guidelines are part of a much wider work programme that will culminate in the development of a Best Practice Framework for the Centre. Other projects include a set of guidelines for Ethics, Contracting and Pacific Peoples.

Juan Tauri presented a interesting paper describing Key Issues in the Development of Government Agency Guidelines for Research and Evaluation with Māori (PDF, 205kb) to the 2004 Australasian Evaluation Society conference in Adelaide.

The International Research Institute for Māori and Indigenous Education was established at Auckland University in 1996 with the aim of developing research which improves Māori and Indigenous people's lives.  There is a particular emphasis on "alleviating the educational crises faced by many Māori".  It also has projects on Kaupapa Māori Theory and Research, Māori health frameworks, and Māori Provider Success.

Eddie Durie presented a useful paper on Ethics and Values in Māori Research to Te Oru Rangahau Māori Research and Development Conference, Massey University, 7-9 July 1998.

He Kete Matauranga is a website of Māori research sources and resources, including Māori research data bases, whakapapa (genealogy) research, and other primary sources.

Some other useful resources include:

• Cunningham, Chris (1998) A Framework for Addressing Māori Knowledge in Research, Science and Technology, Te Oru Rangahau, Māori Research and Development Conference, Massey University
• Durie, Mason (1995) Nga Matatini Māori: Diverse Māori Realities, presented at Wananga Purongo Korerorero: Māori Health Framework Seminar, Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawhia
• Smith, Linda Tuhiwai (1999) Decolonising Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples, Zed Books (London & New York) and University of Otago Press (Dunedin, NZ), 1999.
• Statistics New Zealand (1996) Monitoring Outcomes for Māori. Wellington: Statistics New Zealand. (This pamphlet outlines the principles for data collection).