Mātauranga Māori

Hirini Moko Mead’s 'Mātauranga Māori' is an insightful exploration of Māori knowledge and worldview. Mead presents mātauranga as a living, evolving system that reflects the values, experiences, and histories of Māori communities. One of the book’s greatest strengths is the clarity with which Mead explains complex concepts such as whakapapa, tikanga, wairua, tapu, and mana. He shows how these ideas work together to form a holistic understanding of the world, guiding relationships between people, the environment, and the spiritual realm.

The book also emphasises that mātauranga is dynamic. Mead illustrates how traditional knowledge continues to adapt to contemporary contexts, influencing education, environmental management, and cultural revitalisation. This perspective challenges readers to see Māori knowledge as a sophisticated intellectual tradition with its own frameworks, methodologies, and ways of knowing.

For educators, 'Mātauranga Māori' is particularly valuable. It deepens cultural understanding and supports more responsive, respectful teaching practice. Mead’s writing encourages teachers to appreciate the cultural principles that shape Māori perspectives and to recognise the significance of language, identity, and tikanga in learning environments.

Mead offers a generous, thoughtful, and rounded explanation of a knowledge system that continues to influence Aotearoa’s present and future. His writing opens the door to mātauranga Māori and warmly invites us to step inside, learn, and understand.