Addressing Common Complaints

 

Claim:  It is disrespectful to use the word 'folklore' to describe some Māori traditional knowledge on the Matamataka: by doing so you are devaluing deeply held spiritual beliefs. 

 

Response:  

All belief systems contain some degree of folklore. Māori knowledge should be treated no differently. The term folklore has a legitimate and established meaning within scholarly discourse where it refers to traditional knowledge, stories, and practices that have been passed down through generations. Its use is not inherently derogatory, but reflects my purpose: to critically assess which aspects of the Maramataka are supported by empirical evidence, which are rooted in cultural tradition, and where the two intersect.

​This is not diminishing or dismissing Mātauranga Māori - to the contrary, it treats the Māori Lunar Calendar as a subject of serious inquiry that is worthy of rigorous examination. Avoiding scrutiny for fear of offence does a disservice to both science and Mātauranga Māori.

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While I acknowledge that some readers may have emotional reactions to the use of the word 'folklore,' that cannot override the importance of academic integrity and independence from political correctness. My intent here is not to appease the sensitivities of a few, but to advance understanding. This is especially important as the Calendar is being used by some as a primary therapy for physical and emotional well-being. 

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Claim:  As a non-Māori, what gives you the right to create a book and website on Mātauranga Māori? It's not your knowledge to discuss.

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Response:  No one owns history. All knowledge should be open to scrutiny regardless of its ethnic origin. The concept of 'Maori data sovereignty” – the right of Māori to have control over their own data including who has access to it and what it can be used for, goes against the basic tenets of the scientific method. If different ethnic groups obtain data governance rights, it would almost certainly have a negative impact on  research and policymaking. 

 

In 2023, Auckland University of Technology Associate Professor Isaac Warbrick et al. wrote that in future projects involving the maramataka “it is essential to keep in mind the ethos of conducting research by Indigenous peoples, for Indigenous peoples (by Māori, for Māori)” although they do not exclude non-Māori from participating. The attitude that future research on the Maramataka must be driven by Māori investigators violates basic tenets of the scientific method, namely that research must be conducted in an objective, inclusive manner and the investigation is open to scrutiny regardless of the ethnicity of the researchers or participants. A cornerstone of scientific inquiry is the pursuit of truth utilising evidence-based inquiry. Insisting that research can only be led by Māori undermines the universal nature of scientific knowledge, and disregards contributions from non-Māori. 

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Source:  Isaac Warbrick, et al. (2023). “Te Maramataka – An Indigenous System of Attuning with the Environment, and Its Role in Modern Health and Well-Being.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20:1-12

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