Becoming Tangata Tiriti: Working with Maori, Honouring the Treaty

‘Based on interviews with twelve non-Māori New Zealanders, Bell expertly weaves their narratives with existing writing, exploring what it means to be a good ally to Māori in contemporary times. To call it a ‘how-to manual’ would be too reductive but it does offer a pragmatic set of tools for those willing to do the work. Through teasing out the ways in which non-Māori have engaged with te ao Māori, and the often layered and nuanced complexities these engagements create, the book offers an invitation to Pākehā and, in fact, all non-Māori to be part of the conversation around what makes us New Zealanders – and how we might move forward in ways that are just and that enhance the mana of Māori and non-Māori alike. An easy-to-read book that should be compulsory reading for anyone concerned about our country’s future.’ 

''Among non-Māori New Zealanders wanting to make sense of the basis on which they and their families came to be in and on this land, there is a growing appetite for exactly what this book contains: views from the ground floor – rather than the grand arenas of parliaments, executives and courtrooms – about the meaning and consequences of te Tiriti for the everyday lives and work practices of non-Māori in this country. Becoming Tangata Tiriti will become an important part of the foundation for addressing the challenges of being the non-Māori partner in the Treaty relationship.’

‘Powerful and beautifully written, this book reads as something of a guidebook for tangata tiriti trying to navigate a changing Aotearoa. As the author notes, the participants in this research have “had successes and made mistakes” in their efforts to connect and build relationships with te ao Māori, and it is precisely these successes and mistakes that can illuminate a way forward for those yet to embark on this path.’ 

• | Author: Avril Bell
• | Publisher: Auckland University Press
• | Publication Date: Aug 08, 2024
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9781776711345
• | ISBN-10: 1776711343