Bevan Erueti

Citation

Thesis Title
NGA KAIPARA MAORI: NGA PUMAHARA O TE TUAKIRI MAORI ME TE AO HAKINAKINA
Maori Athletes: Perceptions of Maori Identity and Elite Sport Participation

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Mr Erueti explored how Maori elite athletes experience, interpret and negotiate their Maori identity while competing in elite sport.  Using a Maori form of storytelling referred to as purakau as supported by a Kaupapa Maori Theory (KMT) methodology, Mr Erueti collated the personal experiences of Maori elite athletes with a specific focus on how they made sense of their Maori identity in elite sport environs.  Their purakau emphasised an awareness of the unique challenges they experienced.  Additionally, his research argued that elite sport has the potential to provide new spaces for encouraging cultural regeneration and wellbeing that benefit Maori athletes as they negotiate their unfolding Maori identity, as individuals and within their team, sport and community (whanau, iwi, hapu and Maori).  He summarised his work by presenting a metaphorical depiction that illustrates the complexities of Maori identity negotiation for Maori athletes referred to as Te Whariki Tuakiri - ‘The Identity Mat’.

Supervisors
Professor Sarah Leberman
Dr Farah Palmer