Abstract:
When as Mäori we organise or participate in Mäori culture within non- Mäori settings, we must always act with a generous spirit: to remember that this is a gift we offer to ourselves (that is, to other Mäori) as well as to non- Mäori. In performing our culture, we draw attention to the history of oppression of Mäori people, language and culture, and re- assert the right of “Mäori” to exist. But difficult aspects must be negotiated by those who take responsibility for such events. The purpose of this paper is to explore the divergent possible meanings and implications of holding pöwhiri as part of education events, using a research approach that integrates narrative research and autoethnography with Kaupapa Mäori scholarship in educational research. The narrative voice in the form of stories, both from literature and original, helps link personal and philosophical levels of reflection and analysis (Smeyers & Verhesschen, 2001).
