Pacific research , Rangahau Pasifika

The Pacific Research and Policy Centre provides a way to enhance the quality and impact of Massey University’s research on key Pacific issues and communities, within New Zealand and in the Pacific.

We bring together a wide range of disciplines and research areas and assist with ethical and cultural requirements for research in the Pacific. We also bring the Pacific-related work of Massey researchers together.

Research guidelines

Guidelines for ethical practice in Pacific research recognise the need for researchers to be aware of protocols and values supporting ethical research practice, both culturally and institutionally. To help in this area, PRPC has developed a handbook for researchers, Pacific Research Guidelines and Protocols.

Pacific Research Guidelines and Protocols handbook

The handbook provides guidance on Pacific values and principles in research. It’s a resource for both Pasifika/Pacific peoples and non-Pasifika researchers engaged in research in Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific. The principles outlined in this document are:

Respect for relationships

• Follow cultural protocols and processes throughout the research process.
• Respect for research participants is exercised and grounded in humility.
• The roles of gatekeepers and elders are appropriately acknowledged, and confidentiality is respected.

Respect for knowledge holders

• Ensure Pacific knowledge, aspirations, and well-being are integral to research design, process, outcomes and outputs.
• Prioritise both research partners and research participants as knowledge holders, and a participatory approach is adopted in seeking informed consent.

Reciprocity

• Ensure reciprocity is an integral part of the research process, and participants and communities benefit from the research.
• Reciprocity can encompass gifts, time and service and extends to the accessible dissemination of research findings.

Holism

• Ensure the interconnected nature of the physical, social, environmental, cultural and spiritual aspects of research with Pasifika and Pacific communities is understood and acknowledged.

Using research to do good

• The wellbeing of Pasifika and Pacific communities and their environment must be of central importance and, at the same time, ensure the research is rigorous and scholarly.
• The goal of research beneficence applies to both the integrity of the research process and the potential research outcomes and impact.

Publications

Visit Massey Research Online to find the Pacific and Pasifika Theses Collection.