ABOUT MARAEATEA.COM

Maraeatea.com is part of a wider two year Waka Wairua project that was carried out by a number of partners involving the James Henare Māori Research Centre, The University of Otago, New Zealand, TangataWhenua.com and individual researchers.

We began this research in 2013. This site provides insights into narratives about waka and associated ancestral landscapes from community and indigenous perspectives. There are many interpretations and narratives about many waka and landscapes.

This site adds to these from unique points of view. We wanted to share these stories directly, so that you can compare the differences between what is in Maraeatea.com and what is in published accounts, which are often written from non-community or non-indigenous perspectives. Often also, published accounts are not sourced to the narrators, to their marae or to their hapū.

You will also see the similarities between Maraeatea.com narrators to stories recorded elsewhere, but we leave it to you to make your own conclusions about what you read, see and hear.

ABOUT THE JAMES HENARE MĀORI RESEARCH CENTRE

The Centre was established in 1993 and named in honour of the late Sir James Henare, an eminent Māori leader and scholar.

Sir James played a key role in impressing on the University the importance of honouring its responsibilities in these matters.

Most of the work of the Centre is carried out by interdisciplinary research teams drawn from across the University and its partners.

Our activities include:

• responding to research requests from Māori authorities, organisations, communities and agencies
• seeking funding for research programmes
• using qualified and skilled research staff for projects
• developing Māori research capacity within and outside the University
• delivering research-based information within Māori communities and organisations
• undertaking research on behalf of government departments and other organisations, which relate to, or are concerned with Taitokerau people