18 Nov Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga 2022

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) is the founding host of the biennial International Indigenous Research Conference (IIRC). The IIRC has a well established reputation as the premier international Indigenous conference and consistently attracts high numbers of national and international participants. IIRC is a time for reflection, sharing, planning, and innovating and offers participants a range of engagement modes: master classes, premiere keynotes, guest speakers and time to connect and renew. The event was held from 15 – 18 November 2022. This year, we were proud to have three kaimahi of Toi Tangata contribute to the IIRC.

Kai Māori, kai Ora: A whakapapa conceptualisation of nutrition
Presented by Haylee Koroi

This session offered a space to wānanga a collective envisioning of intergenerational wellness through kai, beyond Western nutrition. In conceptualising nutrition through whakapapa and whanaungatanga we are prompted to expand our view, rather than reduce it. We put Western nutrition in its place, and make visible the wider whakapapa in which it sits, the deep intergenerational relations from which kai emerges as a source of mana within our lives. We looked across generations to the lands and waters from which kai emerges, the communities who have tended the soil.

Mokopuna Korikori  – Culturally empowered play woven into the Pā Harakeke
Presented by Crystal Pekepo-Ratu

This kaupapa offered a new perspective and approach to injury prevention for ACC which was about strength-based concepts rather than focusing on the injury itself. A prototype to test the approach enables a better understanding of how play and self-regulation is currently being used, testing ideas about how it could be used to strengthen cultural identity and positive relationships to inform future investments. 

Reflecting on the delivery of Toi Tangata’s prototype programme ‘Mokopuna Korikori’ run in Ngāti Kahungunu, 2021/2022, this presentation explores the hypothesis that “culturally empowered nurture and play creates the best possible environment for tamariki, mokopuna development.”

Te Umu Kohukohu Whetū o Te Arawa
Presented by Ranginui Rikirangi-Thomas

There has been a significant increase of interest and demand for mātauranga pertaining to Matariki due to the dedication of researchers in this field, particularly due to the success of establishing the new public holiday for Aotearoa. This presentation explored the processes of initiating a traditional celebration of Matariki, drawing upon the research of Dr Rangi Mātāmua and localising it to the Te Arawa area. With the support of Toi Tangata, there have been two Umu Kohukohu Whetū in this region which have gained a lot of interest and development. The intention of this session was to share insight to the kaupapa, in the hope that others may find assistance in engaging with Matariki in their own way.