Māori Health //

Māori Data Sovereignty

The Maurice Wilkins Centre (MWC) is a Government-funded Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) bringing together health researchers across Aotearoa New Zealand. Its work spans from biomolecular discovery to clinical application, with a focus on cancer, metabolic health, and infectious diseases. Central to MWC’s mission is a commitment to improving long-term health outcomes, particularly for Māori, while building capability and awareness of the cultural, economic, and community dimensions of biomedical research.

As part of this commitment, the MWC upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi by releasing a public Māori Data Sovereignty commitment statement. This statement recognises that much of MWC’s research involves the use of Māori data and therefore outlines its responsibility to uphold Māori rights to control and govern their own data. It draws on principles from Te Mana Raraunga, providing a framework for culturally and ethically appropriate data practices that reflect self-determination.

The statement serves as both a declaration and a guide for the MWC, its staff, and stakeholders—ensuring accountability, alignment with Māori values, and an evolving policy foundation that protects Māori interests in research.

Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

It is important to acknowledge Te Triiti o Waitangi as the founding document of our Nation, Aotearoa New Zealand, and this should be used as the template for relationships with Māori peoples, iwi, hapu, whānau, organisations or groups.

This commitment statement acknowledges how each of the Articles in Te Tiriti O Waitangi affirm the rights of Māori with regards to the ownership, control, management and use of Māori data and the responsibility of tangata Tiriti if involved.

Article 1: Māori authority over Māori data is permitted under article one through the requirement of partnership and good decision-making

Article 2: Protection of Māori data is affirmed through the acknowledgement that data about, from or for Māori are considered as “tāonga or treasure”, therefore subjecting it to ownership and control under a Māori world view.

Article 3: Equal rights are given to Māori, thus allowing for tikanga Māori to be the prominent way in which the whakapapa and Mauri of data are managed. This also includes equity in data sets to be achieved especially in areas of health which are critical for Māori.

Definitions of Māori data sovereignty acknowledged by the MWC

As stated by Te Mana Raraunga (2018): Māori data refers to information or knowledge in a digital or digitizable form that is for, about or from Māori peoples and our environments, regardless of who collects, manages or uses it.

Māori rights and interests in data derive from their inherent rights as Indigenous peoples, and unique relationships with the land, water and the natural world. These rights are validated through constitutional frameworks recognised in Ao/NZ such as He Whakaputanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (Te Mana Raraunga, 2018).

Māori data sovereignty emphasizes the inherent rights and interests Māori in relation to the creation, collection, access, analysis, interpretation, management, dissemination, re-use and control of data relating to Māori, whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations as guaranteed in Article II of Te Tiriti/Treaty of Waitangi (Taiuru, 2020). This includes the need to implement robust data governance mechanisms to ensure that the data is used responsibly, avoiding potential harm or exploitation (Lilley et al).

 

References

Te Mana Raraunga. (2018). Principles of Māori Data Sovereignty. Retrieved from TMR+Māori+Data+Sovereignty+Principles+Oct+2018.pdf (auckland.ac.nz)

Lilley, S., Oliver, G., Cranefield, J., & Lewellen, M. (2024). Māori data sovereignty: Contributions to data cultures in the government sector in New Zealand. Information, Communication & Society, 1-16. Retrieved from  https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2024.2302987

Taiuru, K. (2020). Māori Data Sovereignty and Digital Colonisation Treaty of Waitangi overview. Retreived from Māori Data Sovereignty and Digital Colonisation - Taiuru & Associates Ltd

Hudson, M., Beaton, A., Milne, M., Port, W., Russell, K., Smith, B., & Wilcox, P. (2016). Te Mata Ira: Guidelines for Genomic Research with Māori:

Māori Data Sovereignty Commitment Statement

The Maurice Wilkins Centre (MWC), a Centre of Research Excellence focused on biomedical research in Aotearoa New Zealand, is committed to advancing Māori health outcomes and upholding Māori Data Sovereignty (MDS) in alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi

This commitment statement outlines the MWC’s dedication to ensuring Māori have control over data related to their people, knowledge, and environments. Key principles adopted from Te Mana Raraunga include:

  • Rangatiratanga: Māori authority over their data.
  • Whakapapa: Respect for genealogical relationships.
  • Manaakitanga: Ethical stewardship of data.
  • Kaitiakitanga: Guardianship aligned with Māori values.
  • Kotahitanga: Collective benefits for Māori communities.

MWC’s Key Commitments

  • Embedding Māori leadership in governance.
  • Engaging with Māori communities throughout research.
  • Managing data ethically and culturally.
  • Building Māori research capability.
  • Ensuring research outcomes benefit Māori.
  • Training MWC members on MDS and Te Tiriti responsibilities.

This statement establishes a foundation for ongoing policy development, ensuring MWC is held accountable for enabling MDS in its research activities and contributing to equitable health outcomes for Māori.