lecture 21: Maori and technology

Question 1

What types of technology did Māori adopt
and adapt?

Answer 1

• adoption of a flag
• introduction of muskets = revolutionising warfare

Question 2

What media have Māori utilised and for what
purpose?

Answer 2

–> archived maori letters
- legible documents that provide us with insight into a time of the past
–> radio
- 21 radio stations set aside for use of iwi based promotion of the language
–> news and current events tv (te karere)
- enables a mori world view modern news source
- tv programme dedicated to maori centric worldview

Question 3

How have Māori used media, historically and
contemporarily, to benefit Māori?

Answer 3

• technology, historically, contemporarily and in future will dictate the efficiency and wealth of our societies
• maori have a history of technological innovation and adoption eg: snares and spears to trap, canoes and nets
• adaptations to waka
• insightful engineering principles are displayed in fortified pa design

Question 4

What technological initiatives have Māori
developed and why?

Answer 4

–> formation of taura here groups via technology
- allows a new opportunity for connection in a modern sense
- re establishment of tikanga maori and incorporating more te ao maori
- opportunity to provide resources from the taura here to their hau kainga previously not available

–> developing whakapapa
- can implement modern methods for navigating ones whakapapa

Question 5

How does the development of social media
technology benefit Māori? Do these have any
challenges?

Answer 5

• can communicate tikanga and te reo maori
• allows communication between maori
• social networking sites have taken internet technology to a more interactive level whereby maori communities have the ability to connect, engage and communicate in meaningful ways

Question 6

examples of early technology

Answer 6

• kete (basket)
• waka modifications
• technology in narratives

Question 7

diaspora

Answer 7

the dispersal of indigenous populations beyond their home territories

Question 8

hau kainga

Answer 8

those who remain at the home territory

Question 9

taura here

Answer 9

those who are seperated or removed from their home territories

Question 10

What media use te reo Māori today?

Answer 10

• newspapers
• radio
• television

Question 11

Who created the first orthography of the Māori language?

Answer 11

professor Samuel lee and hongi hika
orthography = the conventional spelling system of a language

Question 12

How did Māori adapt and use technologies during the early contact and colonial
periods?

Answer 12

• in its beginnings the internet was seen by many as a technology with great potential for empowerment and self representation of marginalised groups
• use internet to increase access to information and learning opportunities, the ability to create an authentic maori voice, collaboration with other indigenous communities, language revitalisation and the sharing of specialised knowledge within groups

Question 13

What challenges do technology present to te ao Māori and tikanga Māori?

Answer 13

• societal expectations and pressures in the offline world are instantly transferred to the online world
• the online identities of these rangatahi (young) maori are scrutinised by diverse audiences where judgements are made, and for some of these young people, such personas have social, ethical and future implications
• dangers of cyber bullying
• some media shared online is insensitive and disrespectful eg: to grieving families
• potential impact of virtualising tikanga and how this might affect the marae and the frequency with which descendants would return to their marae if customs and rituals of the culture were being accessed only virtually