Kia Whakatōmuri te Haere Whakamua
Culturally responsive reimagining of primary production based on traditional models of the past
Project Details Ngā taipitopito
Collaborators Ngā haumi
AgFirst | AgResearch | Nga Uri o te Ngahere Trust | Te Rangatahi o te Whenua Trust
Historical Māori land use practice was adapted to create unprecedented primary production and export success immediately after early European contact (1840–1864, the “golden years” of Māori agricultural entrepreneurship).
The cultural/social enterprise model for food production used by Māori enhanced community wellbeing and maintained the mauri of traditional ecosystems.
This project will produce a white paper exploring how this model could inform the creation of new production models that are socially responsive, non-exploitative, high-value and world-leading.
Māori elders will contribute through interviews about historical events, recognising rangatira rangahau and mana motuhake.
The research is supported by Kohimarama Aotearoa, a regional network of whenua Māori land blocks in regions of high socio-economic deprivation, with international reach across the Kohimarama / Global Research Alliance indigenous network.