traditional knowledge conference 2008 te tatau pounamu

comprised 15 members at its inception, and has grown rapidly to 180 members in 2008. It is now a wellinformed and influential group.ERMA New Zealand hosts the Network one to three times annually to discuss controversialtechnologies and environmental management issues. As a result, ERMA New Zealand has establishedpositive and constructive relationships with Network members. This work has also enabled Networkmembers to establish relationships between iwi and hapū organizations, learn about governmentregulatory processes involved in environmental management and develop a basic understanding ofsome of the most well known and controversial technologies currently in practice. This foundation hasprovided Network members with the confidence and open-mindedness to begin active engagement anda real sharing of knowledge and information with researchers.Finding the Appropriate VenueThe hui took place in New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington and was hosted at two venues thatreflected the kaupapa of the meeting. Tapu te Ranga Marae is a non-traditional marae (Māori communalcentre) in appearance but very traditional in practice as it is an active papakāinga (home) for the Stewartwhānau. Te Papa Tongarewa (the National Museum of New Zealand) is an operational research facilityfor both mātauranga Māori and contemporary science; its exhibitions and collection spaces provide aunique and living example of the complementarity of these knowledge systems.An unexpected benefit of both venues was that each provided an environment that was slightlyuncomfortable for a segment of hui participants. Iwi participants probably felt more comfortable atTapu Te Ranga Marae, whilst the scientists were probably more at ease in the conference settings of TePapa. This produced a more even playing field from which to establish open and productive dialogue.In hindsight, our abandonment of an initial intention to hold the hui in a university environment wasjustified as the “neutral” and informal setting provided by Tapu Te Ranga Marae and Te PapaTongarewa proved critical to the success of the hui.Motivations for Participation: Why Take Part in the Hui?Motivations differed amongst the parties involved, though common threads are evident. ERMA NewZealand considers the development of relationships between Māori and researchers to be key inundertaking its legislative responsibilities and implementing and enforcing successful regulation. Forthese relationships to be meaningful, both parties must have the requisite capability and capacity toparticipate and/or partner with each other. This hui was an avenue for building the capacity andrelationships between Māori and researchers. Indeed, ERMA New Zealand has a unique capacity tofacilitate the development of these linkages because it has established relationships and networks with awide range of iwi representatives and research organizations. Finally, ERMA New Zealand wasmotivated to organize the hui at the request of Network members who wanted to further develop theknowledge they had obtained at previous hui about new and emerging technologies. This contributedsignificantly to the success of the hui because it meant that the Network was effectively hosting theresearchers and therefore applied the ethics of manaakitanga throughout their engagement at the hui.This is in stark contrast to the potentially adversarial environment that might have existed if the hui hadbeen a researcher hosted event.The Network requested the hui for three principal reasons: to enhance their opportunities forpartnership, protection, and participation in research and technology. These are themes that arecommonly voiced among Māori in relation to technology (Roberts & Fairweather, 2004). Networkmembers wished to partner with researchers so they could harness and direct new technologies ratherthan be at the mercy of technology and its users. History notes that Māori are extremely pragmaticpeople, keen to grasp solutions that might address resource and environmental issues. The Network hasexpressed an increasing awareness of and interest in the benefits of commercial and environmentalopportunities posed by new technologies. Network members were also motivated by a desire to protectpeople and the environment from the misuse of technology. They sought to challenge whether the useof technology was appropriate and within the bounds of tikanga Māori. Both Network members andresearchers recognized the need for information exchange to ensure that risks and benefits of newtechnologies are appropriately managed. Finally, Network members were keen to participate in250