My blogs

About me

Introduction	I am a Maori who loves being Maori, though I also identify as Pakeha/English through my maternal grandfather. My skin and my name act as interpretative signifiers to the world that I am Maori (though I have been mistaken for Spanish by Spanish people when I have been in Spain!!!) I find myself often questioning some of the simplisms and binary thinking that goes on in academia, politics and the wider public arena in relation to Maori by both Maori and non-Maori alike. Through this blog, I am keen to discuss and explore issues such as conceptions of an ideal Maori identity, the pros and cons of essentialism and the social psychological effects of otherisation, among a plethora of other issues pertinent to Maori. I am using this forum to air my thoughts and invite others who, like me, are interested in building Maori (in all our diversities) capacity through the tools of analysis and critique, to join in on the debate too.

Introduction

I am a Maori who loves being Maori, though I also identify as Pakeha/English through my maternal grandfather. My skin and my name act as interpretative signifiers to the world that I am Maori (though I have been mistaken for Spanish by Spanish people when I have been in Spain!!!) I find myself often questioning some of the simplisms and binary thinking that goes on in academia, politics and the wider public arena in relation to Maori by both Maori and non-Maori alike. Through this blog, I am keen to discuss and explore issues such as conceptions of an ideal Maori identity, the pros and cons of essentialism and the social psychological effects of otherisation, among a plethora of other issues pertinent to Maori. I am using this forum to air my thoughts and invite others who, like me, are interested in building Maori (in all our diversities) capacity through the tools of analysis and critique, to join in on the debate too.