Mason DurieMassey University

Ninth Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR9)

Perspectives

Universality

Diversity

Distinctiveness

Universality

Many ethical values are held in common by people across nations,

cultures, and ethnicitiesAvoid

unneccesary pain &

sufferingProtect the young

Respect property Abide by community customs, ideals, conventions

Value people

Diversity

Not all people within the same group hold the same values, ideals, or perspectives

A suburban orientation

A tribal world view

A global perspective

The culture of youth

Whanau values

Pragmatism

Political ideologies

A Christian focus

BEING MAORI2008

Distinctiveness

Ethical expectations and norms of groups are built on their distinctive views, shared histories, values, and

aspirations,

Religious persuasions

The New Zealand way

Maori perspectives Tribal conventions

The Kiwi tradition

Indigenous custom

Community standards

Indigenous

5000 indigenous and tribal groups

200 million people

4% of the global population

Distinctiveness

1. Colonised tribes

2. A vulnerable population

3. An ethnic minority

4. Marginalised communities

5. A Culturally different people

Distinctive 2

1. A close and enduring relationship with the environment

2. Autonomous social groupings that reflect territory

3. Knowledge systems based on environmental encounters

4. A sustainable economy

5. Unique culture & language

1. Colonised tribes

2. A vulnerable population

3. An ethnic minority

4. Marginalised communities

5. A culturally different people

3 Characteristics

Ecological ties Mana whenua

Human encounters Mana tangata

Autonomy & self determination Mana whakahaere

Maori

Indigenous people of New Zealand

Tribal society (now largely urban)

Population 565,000 (15% of total population)

Median age 22 years

Increasing cultural fluency in younger age groups

Rangi & Papa

The earth mother and the sky father were forced apart by their children

• Forests & birds• The elements• The seas, waters, fish• Crops• Ferns• Humankind

Separation enabled life and light

But connections were retained

Spiral

Building relationships

Outward flow of energy

People, land, flora, fauna,water, air, cosmos

Centrifugal direction

Relationships and context give rise to knowledge

Smaller entitiesmake sense when viewedin relationship tolarger entities

Identity

People are part of a wider ecological context

Tangata whenuaPeople of the land

TurangawaewaeA land-based reference point

Mauri

• All matter has life - a mauri

• Connections with the wider environment create a dynamic relationship

• Inner & outer energy chains

• Carbon credits

Relationships

Relationships between:

People and the natural environment Tangible and intangible dimensions Organic and inorganic material Past and future (intergenerational

continuity) The microscopic and the macroscopic Tangata whenua (Hosts) and manuhiri

(visitors)

Marae

Marae AteaA Forum for negotiating relationships

Manuhiri(‘People with other land connections’)

Tangata whenua(‘People of the land’)

Whare nui(Meeting House)

Marae Kawa

• Tangata whenua

• Whaikorero

• Tapu

• Koha

• Social conventions

• Terms of engagement

• Level of risk

• Reciprocity

Autonomy

Potatau te Wherowhero1858

Tuheitia2006

The Maori King

The State

The Treaty of Waitangi1840

Implications

Ecological TiesThe ethics of eco-

connectedness

Human EncountersThe ethics of engagement

Autonomy and self determinationThe ethics of empowerment

Eco-connect

Synergies between people and the natural environment Balance between human

endeavours and environmental sustainability

Longstanding connections between species

All environmental forms have a unique ‘mauri’

Balance

Human & environmental equilibrium Climate change, carbon emissions

Human adaptation to the environment Type II diabetes (living in consumer environments)

Species specificity xenotransplantation

Species survival Assisted reproductive technologies, organ donations Stem cell research

Engagement

Relationship building – assessing risk & motive Time Space

Agreement on termsMutual benefits

Mutual respect and mutually re-enforcement

Implications

Reason for engagement with Maori Who to engage with ? Where should engagement occur ? Trusting relationship or ‘one off’ ? A sample of Maori views or a sample of

views on Indigeneity ? Ownership & management of

information & data

Empowerment

Informed Consent

Active participation

Guardianship:

• Knowledgeable

• space to decide

• time to reflect

• Involvement in research design

• advice on research protocol, & methods • Researcher as well as ‘subject’ of research

• research integrity

• Indigenous environmental interests

• research data

• dissemination of resultsPromoting ethics

Shifting researcher attitudes

Indigenising ethical standards and protocols

Researcher attitudes

Ethical compliance Extension of vision

Research method Research impacts

Centripetal focus Centrifugal focus

Recruitment Active participation

Scientific merit Indigenous gain

Consultation Relationship

Indigenisation

Guidelines for researchers (HRC) Bioethics Council Report Maori framework for ethical review

(NEAC & Nga Pae o te Maramatanga) WAI 292 Matauranga Maori

Claim to the Waitangi Tribunal Protection of native flora, fauna, & Maori

knowledge A Maori Ethical Commission ?

Wider research interests: Health – environment - education - energy)

Indigeneity

The ethics of empowerment

The ethics of eco-connectedness

The ethics of engagement

Ecological ties Human encounters Autonomy & self determination

End