The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST) undertook an evaluation of Vision Mātauranga and the Māori Knowledge and Development Research output class (MKDOC).
The evaluation has a strong focus on processes rather than outcomes. It aims to identify areas of strength and weakness to inform improvements in implementation of the policy. While the evaluation does describe outcomes that may be attributed to Vision Mātauranga and MKDOC, it does not attempt a comprehensive review of results of funded research, nor does it seek to measure progress towards achieving MoRST policy objectives.
Key Results
Vision Mātauranga is an internationally unique strategy. Other indigenous research strategies are focused on protecting indigenous knowledge, or reducing inequality. No other country has a research strategy that sees indigenous people, knowledge and resources, as a source of opportunity and potential national benefit in research, science and technology.
All participants in the evaluation saw Vision Mātauranga as a valuable strategy, primarily as it gave them a very clear mandate to pursue opportunities arising in the Māori-research space, as well as reinforcing existing strategies. Participants were committed to Vision Mātauranga, keen to see it become more embedded in research policies and processes, and wished to remain involved in its development.
FIAs have made good progress in implementing Vision Mātauranga in a number of areas. The strategy has not, however, been fully implemented across all Vote RS&T investment. There remain substantial areas where its influence is not apparent. In some cases, investment agencies have continued using ‘obligation’ or ‘participatory approaches’ to Māori research that Vision Mātauranga was intended to replace for research investment.
FIAs reported difficulty in interpreting MoRST’s expectations, and in translating and implementing the high-level strategic direction of Vision Mātauranga into specific actions (see Recommendation 1).
The structures used by MoRST to advise on the governance and implementation of Vision Mātauranga have worked well. However, some of MoRST’s expectations for Vision Mātauranga have limited formal mechanisms for promotion. Moreover, MoRST did not have a reporting and monitoring system that adequately informed it of the extent of Vision Mātauranga implementation, or the performance of investment in this area (see Recommendation 2 ).
The Foundation and HRC use MKDOC to build capacity and capability for research relevant to Vision Mātauranga themes. However, the jointly invested part of MKDOC is administratively complex, and the research projects it has supported could successfully compete in the separately administered MKDOC funding rounds (see Recommendation 3).
Some organisations we spoke to believed Vision Mātauranga has had influence within the broader community, acting as a ‘welcoming mat’ and indicating the acceptance of Māori research by the government.
Despite this, the influence of Vision Mātauranga within research organisations was limited: its primary use was as a document that informed bids for research funding. Researchers were unsure of the benefits of Vision Mātauranga or how it might relate to their own work. They also did not see many incentives (e.g. financial) for pursuing research relevant to Vision Mātauranga (see Recommendation 1).