Vision Mātauranga

Vision Mātauranga is a New Zealand government science policy framework. Its mission is to unlock the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

Meet Dr Willy-John Martin and hear him talk about what Vision Mātauranga (VM) means for SfTI and how we assess VM when considering applications for Seed project funding.

Read the video transcript  

Our goal is to unite mātauranga Māori and western science to explore new and exciting opportunities to build a vibrant and prosperous technology-driven economy.'

We have captured stories with our innovators who are collaborating to unite mātauranga Māori and western science for real-world impact. You can watch these here. 

• SfTI aims to be an international exemplar of innovation through a mutually enhancing partnership between Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and the tools of western science.

• We are realising the potential of the Māori value chain (its businesses and assets) to grow the Aotearoa-New Zealand economy.
• More Māori scientists and engineers working in the hi-tech research and business sectors; and more Māori accessing the hi-tech research sector to fulfil their economic aspirations.

We are guided by these tikanga (principles):

• kia kōtahi mai – holistic consideration of society beyond the Challenge
• rapua te pae tāwhiti atu – looking beyond the horizon
• kia whakapakari mai – developing and strengthening people, particularly the next generation
• tūhononga – integration of people and processes
• mana motuhake – an independent and self-determined approach
• mana whakahaere – empowered leadership.

To ensure we continue to deliver Vision Mātauranga impact we have a number of initiatives in place:

• Leadership: Vision Mātauranga is championed by our Board, the Director, and Leadership Team. They seek advice from a Kāhui Māori (advisory group) that oversees Vision Mātauranga to ensure a Te Ao Māori view is embedded across our work as a business-as-usual component. Our Challenge Director is also a member of the Kāhui Māori to ensure our Vision Mātauranga goals are realised. Like the Director, our Vision Mātaraunga Theme Leader also sits on the Leadership Team and Kāhui Māori. The Kāhui Māori has published this submission on the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways Green Paper consultation.
• Resourcing: Vision Mātauranga activities and capability are appropriately funded across our Challenge to ensure we have the capacity to provide the guidance our researchers need.
• Capability training: Through our Capacity Development Programme, we provide our researchers with support to incorporate Vision Mātauranga in their work, and build purposeful and mutually beneficial relationships with Māori.
• Vision Mātauranga project process: Our VM projects undergo a rigorous process to ensure that Māori aspirations are met. They are carefully reviewed by leading Māori experts in the field and are overseen by an experienced Māori academic mentor. All projects strongly encourage Māori leadership where capacity and capability are available. Where this is not possible Māori partnership is essential.
• Māori-led research: Capacity and capability of Māori in technology and engineering are key areas that SfTI is dedicated to supporting. We strongly encourage projects that are Māori-led. These could be projects led by Māori technology researchers or led by/with Māori who have partnered with technology researchers for a project. 
• We have two large Spearhead projects led and co-led by Māori and dedicated to creating benefit and realising Māori aspirations – 'Ātea' and ‘Te Tātari Raraunga – Analytics to identify and connect successors to whenua’. We understand the under-representation of Māori in physical sciences and engineering. To improve representation, SfTI encourages collaboration and co-creation between researchers in the field and upcoming Māori researchers, Māori communities and organisations that will lead to future projects with Māori leadership. We also have a number of small Seed projects that are led by Māori, or partnered with Māori.

• Māori data sovereignty: SfTI co-hosted two Māori Data Futures Hui with the Data Iwi Leaders Group, Te Hiku Media, and Victoria University, and produced subsequent reports. The two hui are important contributions to a national kōrero on Māori Data Sovereignty, with the aim of producing resources that contribute to data practices that enable Māori to achieve beneficial outcomes and opportunities while maintaining the mana of Māori data.
• Rauika Māngai: SfTI is actively represented on the Rauika Māngai - an assembly of senior Māori representatives from across the National Science Challenges (NSC). Our VM Manager, co-led a hui that bought together over 100 individuals at the forefront of VM and formed the basis of a guide with the aim of inspiring change across the research sector. 
• Partnerships and co-design: Our Leadership team and Programme Office build strategic partnerships with Māori, Pacific and international indigenous organisations to seek opportunities for collaboration. Examples include the Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA), Ministry of Pacific Peoples, Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA). We also co-design new Spearhead projects with Māori through our Mission Lab and Design process.