Towards a fairer and more tika political science and politics - Are political science programs equipping students adequately for Aotearoa realities?

Oct 15, 2026

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The article examines whether political science programs in Aotearoa New Zealand keep pace with social and political change grounded in tikanga, mātauranga, te reo Māori, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It evaluates the extent to which university course content and research reflect Māori political realities, focusing on Māori politics in teaching and publications. Using collected data, the authors report an approximately 1–1–1 mismatch, arguing this crisis requires substantial indigenising changes to equip students and academics for the unique political and legal landscape.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Change is building

Towards a fairer and more tika political science and politics: Are political science programs equipping students adequately for Aotearoa realities? Annie Te One and Maria Bargh Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka, Robert Stout Building, 21 Kelburn Parade, Kelburn Wellington 6012, New Zealand, [email: annie.teone@vuw.ac. nz](email: annie.teone@vuw.ac. nz) Social and political change is occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand and tika nga , mātauranga , te reo Māori (the Māori language) and Te Tiriti o Wa itangi (Treaty of Waitangi) are increasingly being recognised in diverse political and legal contexts. This article explores whether the political science discipline in Aotearoa New Zealand is keeping pace with these political changes, whether research and course content is adequately reflecting these new realities, and if students are appropriately equipped to participate. In particular, we examine the state of university politics programs and outline the form and quantity of Māori politics in the teaching and research of these programs. From the assessment of the current state of politics programs, we make some observations about what changes may be required to ensure politics programs, their students and academics are fully equipped to work in the unique political and legal landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand. From the collection of this data, we have found that approximately 1% of political science lecturers are Māori, 1% of content taught can be classified as Māori politics and approximately 1% of publications in the New Zealand Political Science journal can be classified as ka upa pa Māori politics. This 1–1–1 crisis provides a bleak picture of the existing arrangements in politics programs in Aotearoa New Zealand and must change. Keywords: political science, Māori politics, Indigenous politics, tika, kaupapa Māori, rangatiratanga, kāwanatanga, Māori education Introduction For many decades Indigenous scholars have highlighted the Western historical and cultural assumptions which underpin academic disciplines and universities. Some of these examinations have become calls to decolonise academic disciplines and universities (Elkington et al., 2020; Gudgeon, 2021; Mataamua, 2021; Moosavi, 2019; Ruru & Nikora, 2021; Tuck & Yang, 2012; Xavier et al., 2021) . Some universities and academic disciplines have begun to respond by including Indigenous knowledge, or taking steps towards “decolonising”, “indigenising” or “reshaping” their institutions and practices (Battiste & Henderson, 2009; Gaudry & Lorenz, 2018; Kuokkanen, 2007) . In this article we explore these decolonising moves in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand and in particular in the area of political science. Social and political change is occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand and tikanga (Māori values), mātauranga (Māori knowledge), te reo Māori (the Māori language) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) are increasingly being recognised in diverse political and legal contexts. These changes have implications for all government agencies, local government, those in the private sector and community groups who live in and seek to utilise any natural resources in Aotearoa. In addition, for tangata tiriti (Allies of Te Tiriti) there are opportunities and obligations. These changes are not occurring in isolation from universities and we suggest there are particular implications for academics in political science and for the teaching of politics students. As Māori scholars trained in the discipline of politics and working in the university sector, we both have a particular interest in examining and supporting positive change. In this article we begin by reflecting on one aspect of the changes occurring, that being the amendments being proposed for the teaching of tikanga and te ao Māori (Māori world) in New Zealand university law faculties. In light of these changes in law faculties, we examine the state of university politics programs and outlin

FAQs

What does the article investigate about political science programs in Aotearoa New Zealand?

It explores whether the political science discipline, including research and course content, reflects major political and legal changes linked to tikanga, mātauranga, te reo Māori, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and whether students are equipped to participate.

What is the meaning of the article’s reported “1–1–1 crisis”?

The authors report approximately 1% of lecturers are Māori, about 1% of taught content can be classified as Māori politics, and about 1% of publications in the New Zealand Political Science journal are classified as kaupapa Māori politics, describing this as a bleak mismatch.

How does the article connect broader government changes to political science education?

It highlights institutional shifts such as Te Arawhiti (established in 2018) and clarifications in the Public Service Act 2020 about supporting relationships with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, arguing universities face implications for how politics is taught and researched.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Kurz