How - A Step-by-Step Guide to the Te Arotūriki Process - CONTINUED

DETAILS OF PROPOSAL STAGE

Elements of a functional relationship

What does an effective & functional relationship look like?

• A fully effective and functional relationship between Māori and researchers requires parties to become familiar with the others perspectives and to develop an understanding of each others priorities and interests.
• It involves open and regular dialogue and must lead to mutually beneficial outcomes for all parties.
• For these relationships to be meaningful, both parties must have the requisite capability and capacity to participate and/or partner with each other.

So how do I develop such a relationship?

Where parties share a genuine interest in the perspectives of others and have common overall goals, relationships can be developed and maintained with very little effort. Critical to the development of successful relationships is the early and effective engagement of parties with open minds and generous intentions. Ultimately when it comes to research, Māori are concerned that it be conducted in a way that is tika [culturally correct] (Roberts & Fairweather, 2004) and that could lead to mutually beneficial outcomes.

It is heartening to know that there are a growing number of examples of where culturally appropriate protocols for working with sensitive topics and materials in research are being developed. For example, researchers have developed culturally appropriate procedures for working with human brain tissue in studies of Huntington’s Disease (Cheung et al., 2007) and collection of blood and urine samples for nutritional studies among Māori children (Durie, 2004). In both instances, Māori and non-Māori researchers worked together to understand their different views and design protocols for the protection of both (Durie, 2004; Roberts & Fairweather, 2004). This interface, where differing worldviews come together, can be particularly fruitful for developing creative research, innovative approaches, and new knowledge (Durie, 2004).

In conducting research that is tika, researchers must appropriately recognise and provide for the use of traditional knowledge by, for example, being prepared to support (i.e. financially) active participation by Māori and providing for intellectual property.

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