Friendship and decolonising cross-cultural peace research in Aotearoa New Zealand

Heather Devere, Kelli Te Maihāroa, Maui Solomon, and Maata Wharehoka

Devere, H., Maihāroa, K.T., Solomon, M., Warehoka, M. (2020) AMITY: The Journal of Friendship Studies (2020) 6:1, 53-87 doi: 10.5518/AMITY/31

Abstract

This article presents an account of collaborative, cross-cultural academic research related to indigenous peace traditions in Aotearoa New Zealand. It describes the decolonising research methodology developed by Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith, kaupapa Māori and introduces kaupapa Moriori (that is being developed by Moriori researchers). We then assess how these kaupapa approaches relate to the concept of friendship articulated by Professor Preston King. We find that the collaborative model that we have developed incorporates friendship principles that are generally in accord with kaupapa Māori and kaupapa Moriori principles for conducting ethical, respectful cross-cultural research. Research based on both friendship and a decolonising methodology allows for sensitive material to be revealed in a way that avoids some of the harm research can cause to communities that have already experienced a painful history. Keywords Friendship; Aotearoa; New Zealand; decolonising; cross-cultural; peace.

Keywords Friendship; Aotearoa; New Zealand; decolonising; cross-cultural; peace.