A critical review of the inclusion of mātauranga Māori in published environmental research

Globally there has been a burgeoning consensus that drawing from Indigenous knowledge in environmental management improves outcomes. Over the past two decades, in Aotearoa | New Zealand there has been increased interest from Western-trained researchers in mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge). In response to this growth in scholarship, this review explores journal articles at the interface of mātauranga and environmental research, characterises the growing body of scholarship, and evaluates ongoing challenges and opportunities. We used both the Web of Science and Google Scholar to identify 81 peer-reviewed articles and traced patterns of research across themes of understanding species, place-based research, monitoring and management, kōrero tuku iho and connecting Indigenous knowledge systems. The prevalence of papers in the understanding species theme highlighted the importance of mātauranga Māori in deepening knowledge of specific species. Papers that connected to our place-based research theme focused on a specific environment in a particular location. These papers typically had very strong connections to iwi (tribes) and hapū (subtribes). Most of these papers stood out as very powerful examples of using both mātauranga and dominant science to understand and, in many cases, improve the environment. Papers in the kōrero tuku iho theme draw from oral traditions and historic views of Māori with respect to the natural environment. Connecting with other Indigenous knowledge systems reminds us that our systems of knowledge can be connected, despite geographical differences, as they are born from a close physical, cultural, and spiritual relationship with the environment. The management and monitoring theme was the most prominent, comprising 41% of the total papers reviewed. This is unsurprising given the significance of te taiao to Māori and the unique space for mātauranga Māori that has been created through policy and law in Aotearoa. The cumulative number of papers connecting to mātauranga Māori in environmental research has increased over time from one in 2004 to 81 in 2022, and 21% of these were published in special issues between 2018 and 2020 focusing on mātauranga Māori in New Zealand journals. These articles illustrate a shift in the research landscape, moving from tokenistic engagement with Māori to creating space for rangatiratanga (sovereignty) in research. There have been some changes in power dynamics, with a move from the “native informant” role to recognising the expertise of mātauranga Māori practitioners in co-authorship positions. The present review hopes to contribute to understanding where we have been to determine collective flourishing futures for mātauranga Māori and environmental research in Aotearoa.