Author: Amelia Elamradi
Editor: Ismat Ghuman
Photo Courtesy: Maori leaders and members of the Australian Defense Force and the charitable group Haka for Life at a service in April in Sydney, Australia, to honor the First Nations People of Australia and Indigenous Maori for their contribution to the protection of Australia and New Zealand. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
The indigenous people of New Zealand, known as the Maori, settled in New Zealand in the 13th century where they developed a holistic knowledge system called Matauranga.
Matauranga is a well-established way of thinking and a generous collection of knowledge spanning from a classification of 33 types of soils to the medicinal uses of native plants and fungi.
Matauranga differs from Western science, as some practices which science has only recently considered, or practical knowledge which modern science lacks, have been established in Maori knowledge for many years. One such example is “Ki uta ki tai”, a practice in which various ecosystems are considered as interconnected entities, where an action in the mountains could be linked to an ecological response in the sea. In Western science, the equivalent would be “integrated catchment management”, a concept that has only been gaining popularity in the past couple decades.
Another important concept in Matauranga is “tapu”, a quality or energy that objects, places or people can have. Something that is considered as tapu should not be interfered with, and is therefore sacrosanct. For example, priests (tohunga) would protect resources from over-exploitation by declaring important resources such as a fishery as tapu. This concept is reflected in conservation today, but where the Western world is only recently realising the importance of conserving natural resources and wildlife, the Maori have embedded this concept into their lifestyle and culture.
While Western science is beginning to adopt practices analogous to those of Matauranga, there is debate questioning its status as a science. Some refer to Matauranga as a science, and yet others would argue that Matauranga is a knowledge system in its own right and does not involve the experimentation and hypothesis testing that the scientific method is defined by. Yet, this does not mean that Matauranga is irrelevant to science. The Maori’s holistic approach and practical knowledge of New Zealand’s ecology is something that scientific research can benefit from, and allows the Maori to have a voice in research.
Maori knowledge has made great contributions to New Zealand’s scientific research. One significant example is in the conservation of the endemic tuatara lizard. Tuataras are the last living member of its taxonomic order, so it’s important to conserve this order before it falls victim to extinction. Tuataras have become extinct on New Zealand’s main island, and only remain on the offshore islands. Researchers were able to interview elder Maori, who had knowledge on the tuatara’s physiology, diet, habitat and more, confirming the scientist’s existing findings. Maori knowledge, in addition to known recent habitats of the tuatara, allow for more effective conservation of the species. Additionally, there have been many other projects which have involved Maori contributions such as the identification of a new active compound originating from a native plant that could potentially prevent a deadly disease in the kauri tree species. Maori’s deep knowledge of various wildlife across New Zealand acts like a “compass” to science, paving the way towards helpful discoveries.
The involvement of Maori in research would suggest that their knowledge is respected in science and society, which is certainly the case across several fields and practices. New Zealand’s government has recently introduced Matauranga to the national curriculum, establishing its “equal status” to subjects traditionally taught in schools. They’ve created resources for schools to use and even ran a “roadshow” to spread awareness of Matauranga through activities and events across the country.
However, there is progress to be made when it comes to the integration and respect of Matauranga. British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has described Matauranga as “myth”, not science, which may be a consequence of a superior view of Western science in which Maori, despite their deep knowledge, are excluded. Another shocking perspective was revealed in a recent study in which Maori female scientists were generally regarded as “impossible fiction”.
The future perspectives on Matauranga and potential Maori involvement in science remain uncertain. A future where Matauranga is acknowledged as a rich and complex knowledge system and used to inform science that benefits everyone is an ideal future. Western science can learn a lot from the Maori’s approach and way of thinking, so a combination of these differing approaches could create holistic and well-informed science. However, problems may arise in attempting to create this ideal scenario since indigenous people shouldn’t be “used” for their knowledge if people continue to disrespect and discredit them. Hopefully, Maori and their Matauranga become a respected knowledge that is used to inform research to meet a shared goal: protecting Earth and improving the lives of the people and wildlife who inhabit it.
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