Te Mata o te Tai – the edge of the tide: rising capacity in information technology of Maori in Aotearoa‐New Zealand
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470310499858 |
| Date | 01 October 2003 |
| Published date | 01 October 2003 |
| Pages | 465-475 |
| Author | Robyn Kamira |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Te Mata o te Tai ± the
edge of the tide: rising
capacity in information
technology of Maori in
Aotearoa-New Zealand
Robyn Kamira
Waiata hei mihi mo koutou
Tirotiro ra, te mata o te tai
Hura ana e, Whati ana e
Tirotiro mai, nga morehu nei e
Tupu ake tatou
Ka ora tonu e-i
Observe the edge of the rising tide
Its flowing, its swelling
Observe also these survivors
We rise
We still survive
Introduction
We can extract relevant lessons in the
information technology era from our colonial
heritage and past. One such lesson is to
understand how information technologies
might further impact on our knowledge.
While there are many recent information
technology projects, they are often ad hoc and
in ``pilot'' or ``trial'' mode, reducing any
chance of sustainability or ``proof of concept''.
However, experience has taught us some of
the pitfalls, management and effectiveness of
information technology, and our capacity to
understand, select and critique is increasing.
Thus, the edge of the tide creeps slowly
forward. This paper reviews the predictions
and impacts of early information technology
(IT) on the Maori in New Zealand and
provides a chronological summary of
important IT developments and events both
on the world context and within the Maori
context before examining whether IT can
have a positive and long-term impact on the
socio-economic status of indigenous peoples.
Drive for survival
After food, shelter and reproduction, there is
culture. For whatever reason, we strive for
cultural survival ± in the face of physical
threat, we fight; in the face of colonisation, we
redefine, reclaim; in the face of information
technology, we position ourselves so that we
and everyone else can know we are distinct
± and that is survival also (Kamira, 2001).
The author
Robyn Kamira is Director, Paua Interface Ltd, Green Bay,
Auckland, New Zealand (Aotearoa).
Keywords
Ethnic minorities, History, Knowledge,
Information services, New Zealand
Abstract
This paper argues that one can extract relevant lessons in
the information technology era from one's colonial past.
One such lesson is to understand how information
technologies might further impact on one's knowledge.
While there are many recent information technology
projects, they are often
ad hoc
and in ``pilot'' or ``trial''
mode, reducing any chance of sustainability or ``proof of
concept''. However, experience has taught people some
of the pitfalls, management and effectiveness of
information technology, and the capacity to understand,
select and critique is increasing. Thus, the edge of the tide
creeps slowly forward.
Electronic access
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is
available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
This paper is based on a conference presentation
for Information Technology in Regional Areas,
Rockhampton, New Zealand, 27-29 August 2002.
465
The Electronic Library
Volume 21 .Number 5 .2003 .pp. 465-475
#MCB UP Limited .ISSN 0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470310499858
To continue reading
Request your trial