Kaupapa Maori

Kaupapa Maori is a positive response to the devastation that is Language and Cultural Imperialism. Ka U means 'to sustain'. U is also our Word for Land and that which is foundational. Papa is the shortened form of our name for Earth Mother and pa also means 'Lifetouch'. Kaupapa. Maori is our generic term for 'the Common People of the Land'.



As Mokopuna (the Blueprint Lifesprings of our Tipuna, Grandparent generations) we were raised in certain ways often distinct to those of our Parents per se. The whole mix constitutes our Parent Culture including the negative tensions we navigate. In the past 35 years our Language faced extinction and our Elders mounted a movement within our selves to utilize ever possible means to ensure its survival. The Elders marched the country to parliament, started in garages, worked for free in the new initiatives and this momentum led by our Elders in behalf of their mokopuna was the key driver for what we have today. In this deeply transformative milieu Literature that moved beyond the Spoken world of our Ancestral spaces was identified as in need of Languaging with which to give positive support and institutional strength to the momentum. Kaupapa Maori, as ways of structurally validating this movement came into BEing.


Kaupapa Maori is a strategic rubric, multi sector and co existential in its praxes. It isn't for all persons, as it does not exclude anyone from participating. Inclusion is our Ancients Life principles. So this movement borne in a Maori Academic setting led my Maori, with Maori for Maori interests was inaugurated. It attempts to mirror our cultural mores and institutional legacies transforming the notion of singular spatiality and contesting it as BEing co existential possibilities. The Sacred Ground and the buildings now resting on it one example of this contestation and struggle for Naming our World.

Kaupapa Maori

Kaupapa Maori has been deeply transformative as a means for creating and holding much neede Safe Spaces, physical, intellectual, Spiritual and the re drawing of lines for the conducting of Respectful Relationships driven by our own meaningscapes, rituals and ceremonies as well as what constitutes our 'Scholarship' roles, functions and applications. Kaupapa Maori; like other re building actions, created much needed reflexive spaces to 'speak to ourselves away from Colonizing paralysis at the intersections of hegemonic power and control in English' ...to develop Critical Analyses capable of transporting our own needs and aspirations distinctively separate in a sense in the same space time co existing spaces as our very fast asleep Hegemonically insistent Kin of all creeds.



It is a part of generational contributions to the restoration of positive and respectful power relations, which also recognizes that Freedom is not a gift, that our Truth and the Colonizers Truth is not the same. If He chooses that Truth, then so be it only His Kin will be bound to it. We recognize the Colonizing paradigm is founded in Thanatos and not Eros. Our Children are our inspiration and our impetus to find positive respectful transformations using the Navigational Wisdoms of our Water of Life Ancients and Ancestors. Creator is guiding our way as it has always been. Aroha e the presence and Life breath of Creator remains central to our preferred strategies of engagement with all Sacred Kin. -Mereana Taki