Wānanga ki te Tika: Māori-led understandings of research ethics in Aotearoa

This paper reflects on issues raised during a Māori Research Ethics Symposium in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). The symposium responded to the ongoing need for ethical research grounded in Māori values, recognising the harm caused by past research practices that marginalised and exploited Māori communities. Central to the discussions was the role of tikanga Māori (the values and practices that guide Māori society) in shaping ethical frameworks that are relational, responsive, and grounded in lived experience. Concepts such as whakapapa (genealogy), whanaungatanga (relationships), manaakitanga (care), mana (authority), tapu (sacredness), hau (vital essence), utu (reciprocity), and aroha (love) were reaffirmed as foundational to building trust and ensuring ethical integrity. The paper highlights koha (gifting) as a tangible expression of these values, particularly utu, hau, and manaakitanga, which work to foster a deeper commitment to reciprocity and the wellbeing of participants. In research settings, however, koha is often narrowed to reimbursement, inducement, or participant payment. This paper argues that such understandings are too limited. Koha is better understood as part of an ethical relationship shaped by reciprocity, obligation, local tikanga, and ongoing accountability. Rather than positioning Māori ethics as a fixed set of rules, the paper argues for an evolving understanding, one that must be continually shaped by Māori research practitioners and their communities. In centring tikanga and community leadership, this paper calls for research that not only upholds ethical standards but also supports Māori aspirations for self-determination, ensuring that research contributes meaningfully to the communities it seeks to serve.