Towards a fairer and more ‘tika’ political science and politics: Are political science programs equipping students adequately for Aotearoa realities?

Annie Te One; Maria Bargh

doi:10.55146/ajie.v52i2.649

Authors

Annie Te One Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9719-5283
Maria Bargh Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1559-1360

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55146/ajie.v52i2.649

Keywords:

Political Science, Māori politics, Indigenous politics, tika, kaupapa Māori, rangatiratanga, kāwanatanga, Māori education

Abstract

Social and political change is occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand and tikanga, mātauranga, te reo Māori (the Māori language) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) are increasingly being recognised in diverse political and legal contexts. This article explores whether the political science discipline is keeping pace with these political changes, whether research and course content is adequately reflecting these new realities, and if students are appropriately equipped to participate. In particular, we examine the state of university politics programs and outline the form and quantity of Māori politics in the teaching and research of these programs. From the assessment of the current state of politics programs, we make some observations about what changes may be required to ensure politics programs, their students and academics are fully equipped to work in the unique political and legal landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand. Approximately 1% of political science lecturers are Māori, 1% of content taught can be classified as Māori politics and approximately 1% of publications in the New Zealand Political Science journal can be classified as kaupapa Māori politics. This 1–1–1 crisis provides a bleak picture of the existing arrangements in politics programs in Aotearoa New Zealand and must change.

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Author Biographies

Annie Te One, Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka

Annie Te One (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga) is lecturer at Te Kawa a Māui School of Māori Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka. Her research interests include Māori and Indigenous politics, mana wāhine and Indigenous feminisms, Indigenous international relations and the intersections between Indigenous political institutions and the state.

Maria Bargh, Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka

Maria Bargh (Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa) is a professor of politics and Māori studies at Te Kawa a Māui School of Māori Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka. Her research interests focus on Māori politics including constitutional change and Māori representation, voting in local and general elections, and Māori resource management economy including renewable energy, freshwater, mining and biodiversity.

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