Ethics

Research Ethics Proposal

Ethics within Kaupapa Māori Research is grounded within tīkanga Māori. As such, concepts such as tika, pono, tapu, noa, manaaki, tiaki are key to an overall ethical approach. In the Māori Sexuality project the formal ethics proposal was undertaken through the University of Auckland Ethics Committee as required by University. However, ethics are much broader for Māori and relate to our accountabilities and obligations, and the involvement, safety, well-being protection of those involved in the research journey.

Video one explores one of the activities that was undertaken by the Māori Sexuality research team was a training of interviewers that raised issues and questions in regards to how we perceive sexuality. The purpose of the training was to ensure that all involved would act in culturally and ethically appropriate ways when talking with our people about sexuality. It was one means of providing tools for safe practice as researchers. What was clear for this project was that those people involved were often sharing highly intimate information and experiences. It was critical that the research team were able to work in ways that would ensure that each person involved was treated with the upmost respect on all levels.

Video two provides some points about how ethics are implemented both in terms of the university process and in terms of the Kaupapa Māori process.