Poipoia Te Kākano Kia Puāwai: The Operationalisation of Māori Data Sovereignty in Aotearoa—A Scoping Literature Review

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Authors: Paula Toko King, Natalie Paki Paki, Donna Cormack, Cheryl Davies, Roimata Timutimu, Gabrielle Baker, Tristram Ingham, Bernadette Jones, Marama Cole, Claire Kemp
Cited by: 4
References: 55

Abstract

Māori Data Sovereignty and Māori Data Governance are articulationsand expressions of our Māori rights to be self-determining as sovereign peoples. Over the last decade, there has been considerable growth in scholarship, theorising and advocacy around Māori Data Sovereignty with a number of frameworks, models and sets of principles developed. Underpinned by Kaupapa Māori theory and informed by the PRISMA and CONSIDER guidelines, this scoping literature review examined the application of Te Ao Māori concepts, values, principles and/or practices to operationalisation of Māori Data Sovereignty and/or Māori Data Governance. Of the 2413 records identified, 32 full texts met our inclusion criteria. We identified 21 Te Ao Māori concepts, values, principles and/or practices (listed in order of frequency): 'Katiakitanga'; 'Rangatiratanga'; 'Whakapapa'; 'Whanaungatanga'; 'Manaakitanga'; 'Kotahitanga'; 'Tapu/Noa'; 'Mauri'; 'Mana'; 'Hau'; 'Wairua(tanga)'; 'Pūkenga(tanga)'; 'Rāhui'; 'Pōwhiri'; 'Wānanga'; 'Pūrākau'; 'Tika'; 'Pono'; 'Mana Motuhake'; 'Tino rangatiratanga'; and 'Ūkaipōtanga'. We describe their interpretation and application to Māori Data Sovereignty and/or Māori Data Governance. We also identified lesser focus in the literature of the Māori Data Sovereignty aspirations and priorities of specific Māori population groups, for example, tamariki and rangatahi Māori, tāngata whaikaha Māori and takatāpui Māori, and discuss implications for Māori data futures.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Indigenous Health Education and Rights New Zealand Economic and Social Studies Technology and Ethics

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
56
Issue
2
Pages
e70029–e70029
Publication date
3 March 2026
Language
EN