Course syllabus

POLITICS 229: Mana Māori Motuhake: Māori Politics and Public Policy 

SEMESTER 2, 2020 15 points

This photograph of four long-serving Māori MPs was probably taken in the early 1970s. From left they are Koro Wētere (Western Māori 1969–96), Matiu Rata (Northern Māori 1963–80), Whetū Tirikātene-Sullivan (Southern Māori 1967–96) and Paraone Reweti (Eastern Māori 1967–81).

Lecturer: Lara Greaves - lara.greaves@auckland.ac.nz 201N (HSB/SSB) Room 5.39. My office hour is Friday 10am, but I am also happy to chat after the lecture/tutorial. Alternatively, please email me to make a time to meet (in person or on zoom). 

Graduate Teaching Assistant: Amiria Taumata -  atau584@aucklanduni.ac.nz - Office Hour Tuesday 1pm (Building 201, room 525). 

Course delivery format: Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online

A 2 hour lecture on Thursday 11am-1pm (Old Choral Hall, Room G53). Lectures will be recorded.

A 1 hour tutorial - either 1pm Thursday (Commerce A, G18), 2pm Friday (Humanities Building 215) or 3pm Friday (Humanities Building 216). We will be recording one of these for those who cannot attend class in person or are keeping away due to illness.

Link to the ANONYMOUS QUESTION AND SUGGESTION BOX

Summary of Course Description:         

What is the best way to ensure Mana Māori Motuhake (Māori self-determination) in the current day and into the future?

This course gives an introduction to Māori politics and policy. We explore Māori self-determination from pre-contact, the signing of He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Niu Tīreni/Declaration of Independence and Te Tiriti o Waitangi/ the Treaty of Waitangi, the formation of the Māori electorates, urbanisation and protest movements, the Waitangi Tribunal, through to the formation of the Māori party, Ihumātao and continued efforts to have a “seat at the table”.

Particular emphasis is placed on the diversity of identities, values, and political views within “Māori”. For example, where does Winston Peters fit into all of this?.

The course also gives students an opportunity to explore comparative Indigenous politics and Mana Wahine theory.

Course outcomes:

This course will give you an appreciation of:

• The ways in which Māori identity is complicated and political;

• The diverse ways that Te Tiriti/The Treaty has been portrayed and has influenced our politics;

• How Māori have interacted with the Crown;

• The ways in which Māori have fought for and enacted political change;

• Where different Indigenous peoples are similar or different to Māori in their politics;

• Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wahine: how these theories inform politics now and what politics could look like in the future.

The specific skills you will gain:

• Greater confidence in critically analysing the readings through writing reading summaries and participating in tutorials;

• Skills in analysing a current policy issue through a Kaupapa Māori or Mana Wahine lens;

• Practice in writing about comparative politics through the Indigenous comparative component of the written assignment;

• The opportunity to further develop your academic writing (in the written assignment).

Assessment Summary:

20% Policy issue assignment (1,000 words; due Friday 18th September 4pm - FLAT 10% LATE PENALTY NOW APPLIES)
Apply a Kaupapa Māori or Mana Wahine -based perspective to a current policy issue.

10% Reading Summaries (x4; due any time before NOVEMBER 5TH)
The criteria for these marks is posted under modules. In short, this involves writing a critical summary of a reading (in 200 words) and handing it in at the tutorial for the week. WE WILL NOW ACCEPT THESE ON CANVAS UNTIL THE END OF WEEK 12, you can now hand in as many as you want in any week.

30% Written Assignment (2,000 words; EXTENDED DEADLINE Friday 16th October 4pm - followed by a 2 week late penalty of 5% then a 10% flat late penalty can submit until NOVEMBER 5TH)
This assignment revolves around your choice of a Māori political movement (broadly defined), discussions of how it was successful (and not), and has a comparative Indigenous politics element. 

40% 2 hour exam
Short answer questions and an essay.

Weekly Topics:

Note that this is provisional, depends on guest speaker availability and that some lecture content may overlap between weeks.

Recommended Texts: There is no textbook for this course. I have provided a detailed reading list with weekly set readings and commentary (see Reading Lists tab).

Please see the Politics and International Relations Coursework Guide for more information on assignments. In this courses we prefer APA referencing.

Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time.

In certain circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension will be penalised by loss of marks. Please email me (Lara) before the assignment due date/time and we can try to work out a suitable extension.

Late Policy: Assignments submitted up to two days late will lose 5 marks.

Assignments submitted three to five days late will lose 10 marks.

Assignments submitted six to ten days late will lose 25 marks.

Assignments submitted more than ten days past the due submission date will not be accepted but contact your lecturer if you wish to be considered for an exception.