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Taonga Tuku Iho

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Formal agreements signed between us and iwi, for example the Letters of Commitment, outline iwi aspirations and ways that these can be achieved. To assist us to achieve these as Treaty of Waitangi obligations, we need help from public sector organisations to understand and identify what information and knowledge (taonga tuku iho) they hold concerning iwi/hapū/Māori. Māori metadata is needed.

Māori metadata can identify specific iwi, hapū, marae, whenua (land), people (tipuna), whakapapa (genealogy), koawa (waterways, rivers & streams), te reo Māori (language/dialect), maps, and place names. These are ways that Māori intuitively search for information about themselves. The list above is not exhaustive and should be tailored to the public sector organisation.

Access to iwi specific taonga tuku iho will contribute to the revitalisation of iwi and hapū dialect (reo), establishment of iwi repositories, development of educational resources and iwi specific wānanga (workshops), as well as other benefits. The use of Māori metadata to identify taonga tuku iho will improve access to, and use of, information and knowledge relating to iwi/hapū/Māori groups.

When considering the application of Māori metadata within government information management, consider the following:

  • A plan to develop and use Māori metadata

  • Whether your content management system/s has the ability to include Māori metadata fields

  • Consultation with our staff

  • A visit to Te Puni Kōkiri to see first-hand how they use Māori metadata

  • Engaging with Māori i.e. those with signed formal agreements with us or the public office

  • Networking with similar agencies i.e. within the culture and heritage sector, land etc.

To find out more about applying Māori metadata get in touch.

Originally published on the Records Toolkit blog 31 May 2018