Abstract:
This article explores the complexities encountered by Māori researchers working at the nexus of Māori and academic communities. We critique the ways in which power asymmetries and discourses of authenticity can prescribe a narrow, distorting view of what it means to be Māori, a social scientist, and a Māori social scientist. Illustrative examples are employed to show how these forces give rise to barriers in the form of closed ideologies, networks, and access to resources. We conclude by discussing the benefits of being both insider and outsider conducting research in “the space between”.
