The research looks at the traditional Māori worldview of knowledge through to the current view of mātauranga Māori, which covers a broad range of knowledge and practices. Dr Charles then offered thoughts on how this research could practically be applied in the museum sector, but pointed out that:
Contemporary Māori culture is again undergoing change and the place of taonga will change as well. It is beyond the scope of the museums to make a final judgement as to the changing shape and character of a culture; however, it is within the scope of the museum to remain in touch with the expectations of a people relating to their artefacts and the work of the museum as a whole.
Dr Charles has suggested ideas to further this research, including a study of contemporary tikanga pertaining to the handling of taonga; developing a body of literature about taonga; and for Te Papa purposes, to develop a statement on mātauranga Māori.
Dr Charles is an accomplished musician, writer, researcher, and academic who has written and edited a number of publications pertaining to mātauranga Māori. In recent years, Dr Charles has been a research resident at the Rockefeller Foundation Study and Research Centre in Italy; he was a Fulbright Senior Scholar, and the recipient of a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust travelling scholarship that enabled him to undertake a comparative study of indigenous worldviews in the United States and Canada in 2001. Dr Charles also held the position of Director of Graduate Studies and Research at Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa in Otaki for six years.
National Services Te Paerangi has progressed this work further and has now developed a He Rauemi Rource Guide based on this research.
He Rauemi Resource Guide - 31: Mātauranga Māori (PDF, 1.36MB)