Ngā Tini Whetū: Navigating Māori Futures

13 October 2011

HUIA is an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderful and provocative books with a uniquely Māori or Pacific perspective.

In his latest book, Ngā Tini Whetū: Navigating Māori Futures, Mason Durie makes publicly available twenty-five of his thought-provoking papers that he has presented at various conferences in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Malaysia and the USA between 2004 and 2010.

The papers cover a wide range of topics but are primarily about Māori journeys and indigenous aspirations in a rapidly changing society and in a world that has become increasingly complex yet, ironically more accessible.

He explores the potential futures for Māori and discusses Māori moving towards a future involving new technologies, alliances, economies and, given current trends, the issues and opportunities that lie ahead.

Widely acknowledged as an inspirational thinker, Mason Durie’s ideas and proposals have been taken up by governments, Maori leadership and organisations. This book extends his ideas from his earlier publication Ngā Kāhui Pou – Launching Māori Futures (Huia, 2003) on how Māori can be best positioned to benefit from national and international trends.

‘If there is a single message to this book, it is that Maori have the knowledge, skills and foresight to create a future where younger generations, and generations yet to come can prosper in the world, and at the same time live as Maori.’

Ngā Tini Whetū: Navigating Māori Futures was launched in the wharenui at Te Aute College, Pukehou in Central Hawkes Bay which Mason attended in the 1950s and where he has now been appointed to the board.

Mason Durie (Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata and Ngāti Raukawa) is professor of Māori research and development, and assistant vice-chancellor (Māori) at Massey University and is one of New Zealand’s most respected policy experts. With a background in psychiatry spanning over thirty years, he has published widely both within New Zealand and internationally, mainly on topics of health, education and models for indigenous selfdetermination.

ENDS

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