Kaupapa Māori Principles, Procedures and Practices

Fiona Cram and Te Marino Lenihan, IRI, University of Auckland

Funder: Te Puni Kokiri - Ministry of Māori Affairs

Timeframe: 2000

The research project focused on the macro or structural components of service delivery to Maori and the philosophical development of Kaupapa Maori within these services. This included an examination of the structural impediments to providing a Kaupapa Maori service within a ‘mainstream’[i] organisation. The research questions were:

  1. What evidence exists, if any, that the integration of Kaupapa Maori principles, procedures and practices in mainstream service delivery helps to promote greater access to services by Maori, better outcomes for Maori and increased participation and representation by Maori?
  2. In what ways can Kaupapa Maori principles, procedures and practices be promoted, developed, monitored and evaluated by Maori?
  3. How do Kaupapa Maori services contribute to the effectiveness of mainstream service delivery to Maori and improve outcomes for Maori?

The main information gaps included the identification of factors that:

  • Explore the concept and application of Kaupapa Maori principles, procedures and practices;
  • Determine whether or not Kaupapa Maori principles, procedures and practices improve the social and economic status of Maori across all or selected sectors; and
  • Evaluate the impact of current mainstream policies, programmes and services on Maori and whether or not current programmes and services are effectively delivered and utilised.
Fifteen providers across a range of services (education, justice, health, employment, family, and housing) were interviewed, along with 16 key informants who either had extensive involvement within the Kaupapa Maori movement or were ministerial policy analysts and advisers.

[i] We have written ‘mainstream’ like this as many of the providers we have interviewed find the term problematic. This is emphasised for Iwi providers who are providing what they firmly believe to be a mainstream by Maori, for Maori service.

Fiona Cram,
18 Sep 2009, 23:56