He Whaipaanga Hou – A New Approach 2018
About the project
He Whaipaanga Hou – A New Perspective was a ground-breaking report published in 1988. It investigated the criminal justice system’s bias against Māori, placing this within the broader context of the social, economic and cultural issues that have shaped New Zealand society. It was a landmark report that led to much public debate.
However, since the 1988 report, little has improved, and some things have worsened in terms of New Zealand’s disproportionate incarceration of our indigenous peoples:
- the rate of incarceration for Māori men has not changed in 30 years (they continue to comprise approximately 50 percent of the male prisoner population)
- the rate of incarceration of Māori women has risen significantly. Today Māori women make up 64 percent of the female prisoner population in New Zealand.
Moana Jackson, lead researcher and author of the 1988 report, has been working for several years on an update of the original research, including tracking down and interviewing original interviewees, and comparative international research about other settler states.
The Borrin Foundation grant will enable Moana Jackson and a research team to complete the research this year, the 30th anniversary of the original report. He Whaipaanga Hou 2018 involves discussion with over 2000 Māori across the country, and over 80 hui. It will also include extensive interviews with representatives from institutions of the criminal justice system. As with the original report, the research is both qualitative and quantitative and based within a kaupapa Māori research methodology.
The research looks at:
- current Māori views of institutions in the criminal justice system in comparison with those in the original 1988 report
- the operations, policies and effectiveness of these criminal justice system institutions in regards to Māori
- comparisons of indigenous peoples of the four settler states (Australia, Canada, United States and New Zealand) and their respective criminal justice systems, with recommendations based on this research.
Grant amount
$614,420 from 2017 onwards for the final phase of this lengthy research.
Moana Jackson (Kaimahi Rangahau – Research Lead):
Moana Jackson, of Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine and Ngāti Porou descent, is one of New Zealand’s leading legal thinkers on the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori constitutional issues. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential minds shaping indigenous rights, both in Aotearoa and internationally.
Moana Jackson is a strong campaigner against injustice and inequities. His investigations into the justice system and its bias against Māori continue to shape national debate and have changed our understanding of Māori law.
Moana Jackson was the lead researcher and author of the 1988 He Whaipaanga Hou 300-page report.
He Whaipanga Hou 2018 is led by Moana Jackson and supported by a small team of researchers.
Contact point for this project:
Anne Waapu, Researcher and Project Manager
“Currently, 51 percent of men in prison are Māori, and 64 percent of women in prison are Māori. These are shameful figures. Since this issue was first highlighted 30 years ago, little has changed. The Borrin Foundation grant will support our essential research into why our country continues to imprison Māori men and women at such high rates. I hope our report will lead to a more open and imaginative discussion about the criminal justice system.”