Outreach - Collaborative Research with Māori & Pacific Island Communitites

Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
My strength is not that of the individual, but that of the multitude.

The Allan Wilson Centre is committed to conducting research that is relevant to, useful to, and collaborative with Māori and Pacific Island communities. Over the six years of its existence, the Centre has conducted 67 research projects in connection with 28 different communities and organisations of Māori and other Pacific peoples.

Ruanui with kiore (Pacific rat,
Rattus exulans) on his shoulder,
carving from Tanenuiarangi,
University of Auckland marae.
Photo credit: Tim Mackrell,
University of Auckland

These relationships are reciprocal and mutually beneficial. The Centre has benefited greatly from the participation and expertise of iwi and Pacific Island communities in research. Māori and Pacific Island communities have received varied benefits from this joint research as well, including digital archives documenting their traditional knowledge, journal article co-authorship, paid research positions, postgraduate research scholarships, and scientific advice on conservation and restoration of taonga species (species that are treasured culturally).

Most of the recent and ongoing collaborative research at the Centre falls into one of the three themes listed below. Many of these projects are aimed at conserving both species and culture. You can learn more about these projects, as well as the communities and researchers involved, through these links.

• Conservation of Aotearoa's Species and Culture
• Biodiversity of the South Pacific
• Origins and Migration Paths of Pacific Peoples

We welcome contact from hapū, iwi, rōpū Māori, and other Pacific communities that are interested in collaborating on genetic or biodiversity research of South Pacific species. If your group has a research question or project that the Centre may be able to help with, please contact Kristina Ramstad at kristina.ramstad@vuw.ac.nz or other Centre scientists conducting research that is relevant to your question.

Hui

In May 2008 the AWC participated in a Hui focussing on Biotechnology. This event was coordinated by ERMA and run at Te Papa. Discussions are underway to identfy a focus for a future hui. If you would like to contribute an idea that could be addressed in a future hui, or you would like your name to be added to those invited to the hui, please contact Kristina Ramstad on kristina.ramstad@vuw.ac.nz.

© 2009, Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology & Evolution