Māori academics gather to present research

7:21 pm on 9 November 2017

Leading Māori researchers are gathering today for the biennial Hui Poutama symposium which showcases the University of Otago's latest Māori academic research.

The theme for this year's event is highlighting the importance of looking into the past to shape the future.

Post-graduate students will present three minute thesis presentations on topics ranging from Ngāi Tahu women's experience in the foster care system to Māori water safety and swimming.

Symposium organiser Anne-Marie Jackson said Māori research was needed now to address issues of importance to Māori and society.

"We have ground-up projects so our relationship with our community and whānau are right hand-in-hand [alongside] the research project."

Dr Jackson said a key challenge was increasing the number of Māori academics at all institutions.

She said this would enable researchers to complete more work with Māori communities.

"The exciting part that we have as Māori academics is working directly with our whānau and communities so we can support them."

There will be 12 academics from the University of Otago presenting their research during the two-day symposium, which is being held at the Hutton Theatre at Otago Museum in Dunedin.

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