Book Launch Brings Fresh Perspectives to Māori Development

Bringing different perspectives to important Māori political and development issues has been the motivation behind two new books launched by Massey University this week.

Titled Mana Tangata – Politics of Empowerment, and Always Speaking – The Treaty of Waitangi and Public Policy, the books explore the foundations and impetus for Māori development today. Both have been authored and edited by Māori academics associated with Te Pūtahi-a-Toi, Massey University’s School of Māori Studies.

Mana Tangata is a collection of papers about a fundamental Māori principle, viewed through the many different disciplines taught within Māori Studies, including Te Reo, the Treaty of Waitangi, Art, History, Health, and the Environment.

The book has ten contributing authors, all previous or current academics at Massey University, and each discusses Māori development and empowerment within their area of expertise. Malcolm Mulholland, author, senior researcher at Massey University, and Mana Tangata’s co-editor, believes that Mana Tangata differs from previous books published because it applies a Māori principle across a range of subjects.

“The disciplines written about are wide and varied, yet the principle of mana tangata can be applied to all the areas covered in the book,” he says. “It also takes a more affirmative stance towards creating change for the better for Māori, looking deep within ourselves and our past for potential solutions to the problems we face today.”

Always Speaking also brings together experts in a range of fields. By drawing upon the Treaty of Waitangi, it addresses how Māori might overcome the key challenges in public policy sectors like health, education, housing, and economic development, as well as language and broadcasting, electoral reform and international relations.

“Across these different policy areas there is one clear message” says Veronica Tawhai, Māori development lecturer at Massey University, and co-editor of Always Speaking. “Policy that honours the Treaty is policy that can better deliver positive outcomes to both Māori and other New Zealanders.”

The book is for students, policy analysts, community workers and planners, and seeks to assist readers to consider and incorporate the Treaty into policy development

Brian Bargh from Huia Publishers, which published both Mana Tangata and Always Speaking, believes the books will be valuable resources, especially for students and teachers of Māori Studies.

“These books contain papers and reflections from Māori experts at the top of their game,” he says. “Publishing this knowledge in book form makes it available in an edited format that has been peer reviewed, and while this does not necessarily authenticate some of the claims made, it does put them out for debate in a wider context.”

Exploring an issue or concept through multiple disciplines also has another benefit, says Malcolm Mulholland: “Both books make the reader aware of seeing the world through Māori eyes – and how far reaching that is.”

Mana Tangata and Always Speaking were co-funded by Te Pūtahi-a-Toi (Massey University’s School of Māori Studies) and Manu Ao. Both books will be launched at a function at the Palmerston North City Library on 14 December 2011.