'Heed the Taniwha' - Indigenous Intergenerational and Emergent Intercultural Transfer of Knowledge in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Hitherto mostly ignored or disregarded by the science community because it seemed to be myth or legend, fantastic and implausible, mātauranga Māori, the knowledge of the indigenous people of New Zealand, is knowledge generated using techniques consistent with the scientific method, but also includes culture and values, and is explained according to a Māori world view. Pūrākau are a traditional form of mātauranga Māori, in narrative form, containing philosophical thought, epistemological constructs, cultural codes and world views. Pūrākau are an integral part of mātauranga Māori. They are explanations of landscapes, seascapes and associated phenomena, consistent with a Māori world-view, deliberately constructed to encapsulate and condense into easily understood forms, Māori views of the world, of ultimate reality and the relationship between the atua (deities), the universe and humans. Pūrākau explained as 'myths' invalidate Māori ontological and epistemological constructs of the world, and pūrākau understood as just 'stories' is an inadequate explanation of the importance and efficacy of pūrākau in teaching, learning and the intergenerational transfer of knowledge.

Could the science of storytelling be directly linked to the art of survival? Taniwha are a form of pūrākau, that can have varied meanings to different whānau (families), hapū (groups of families) and iwi (tribal nations). One common widespread understanding is that taniwha are our kaitiaki - our guardians. However in contemporary New Zealand society, taniwha, and those who know and speak of them, are at best widely misunderstood, at worst ridiculed. Practically, taniwha serve to reduce disaster risk, acting simultaneously as warning signs and guardians. This talk will discuss taniwha and their role in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand, their emergent intercultural use in decision-making, and how they continue to keep us safe