October 19, 2025Open Access

Restor(y)ing Maui: Trickstering Time and Making Space for Other Worlds

Key Points

The dialogue contrasts colonial and Maori narratives, revealing how Maui is a critical figure in Aotearoa's identity.
It highlights that social justice efforts may inadvertently maintain existing power structures and not achieve true change.
Working Polynesian students demonstrate ways to explore and enact possibilities for alternative futures through education.
Research emphasizes the importance of relationships, community, and humility when engaging with Indigenous perspectives.

Abstract

Alejandra Jaramillo-Aristizabal and Michelle Johansson’s comprehensive dialogue addresses central issues, ranging, for example only: from (i) contrasting the colonial version of New Zealand’s ‘discovery’, (usually taught in schools), with the Maori version in which Maui, (the Ingenious trickster), created Aotearoa. To (ii) suggesting that the quest for social justice unintentionally reinforces the status quo; to (iii) summarizing ways in which working Polynesian school age students explore how to enact possibilities of a different world; through to (iv) explaining the benefits of conducting research embedded in Indigenous perspectives in which relations, relationships, community and critical humbleness are significant.

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