Culture, Risk, and the Prospect of Genetically Modified Organisms As Viewed by Tāngata Whenua
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Culture, Risk, and the Prospect of Genetically Modified Organisms as Viewed by Tāngata Whenua Terre Satterfield, Mere Roberts, Mark Henare, Melissa Finucane, Richard Benton, and Manuka Henare Culture, Risk and the Prospect of Genetically Modified Organisms as Viewed by Tāngata Whenua By Terre Satterfield, Mere Roberts, Mark Henare, Melissa Finucane, Richard Benton, and Manuka Henare Whakatane: Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi May 2005 The research reported in this report has been supported under Contract UOA X0234 from the Foundation for Research Science and Technology, Wellington, New Zealand through the University of Auckland and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. The authors would like to thank all those who made this project possible. Their willingness to embark upon this journey with us into the largely unknown was greatly appreciated. Nō reira, mā te Atua koutou e manaaki, e tiaki i ngā wā katoa. Their views presented here provide an in-depth insight into the values and beliefs of a wide range of tangata whenua concerning genetically modified organisms. We hope their gift will make a valuable contribution to this subject area, and provide sustenance for those who seek to travel further on this journey. We wish to thank the James Henare Research Centre at the University of Auckland who provided a home for the first stages of this project and, along with our Māori Advisory Committee members (Dr. Merimeri Penfold, Father Henare Tait, Pereme Porter and Rua Rakena), provided much appreciated manaakitanga for this project. Project Director: Dr Mere Roberts, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Associate Researchers: Dr Terre Satterfield, The University of British Columbia Dr Melissa Finucane, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Honolulu, Hawai’i Dr Manuka Henare, The University of Auckland Advisor: Professor Richard Benton, The University of Waikato Graduate Assistant: Mark Henare, Cambridge University CONTENTS 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................... 6 Aims of This Project ..................................................................................................... 6 Background to GMO Technology .............................................................................. 7 Legislative and Regulatory Provision Relevant to GMO Research in New Zealand ....................................................................................................................................... 10 The HSNO Act.......................................................................................................... 11 The ERMA Decision-Making Process...................................................................... 11 Underlying Principles for ERMA Decisions ........................................................ 12 Māori Concerns Relating to Applications Considered by the Authority.................. 13 Towards a More Inclusive Framework for Risk Assessment ................................. 14 2. Methodology................................................................................................................. 16 Interviews and Focus Groups .................................................................................... 16 Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 18 Streamlining Codes................................................................................................... 18 Presentation of Results.............................................................................................. 20 3. Primary Philosophical Concepts ................................................................................. 21 Spiritual Matrix A: Tapu, Noa, Mana ...................................................................... 21 Mana as Referenced in Discussion About GM......................................................... 21 Tapu .......................................................................................................................... 22 Tapu References in Context of GMO Debates ..................................................... 23 Noa............................................................................................................................ 24 Spiritual Matrix B: Mauri and Wairua.................................................................... 26 Mauri......................................................................................................................... 26 Mauri in the Context of GM Discussions ............................................................. 27 Mauri as Distinct from Its Physical Form............................................................. 27 Mauri as Transferable ........................................................................................... 28 Mauri as Nontransferable...................................................................................... 30 Wairua....................................................................................................................... 32 Wairua in the Context of GM Debates ................................................................. 32 4. Key Values Highlighted by Discussants...................................................................... 35 He Tangata, He Tangata ........................................................................................... 35 Aroha/Manaaki ki te Tangata.................................................................................... 35 Whānaungatanga: Pēhea Nga Mokopuna? ............................................................... 36 He Tangata and Whakapapa ..................................................................................... 37 5. Norms ........................................................................................................................... 39 I Ngā Wā o Mua .......................................................................................................... 39 Culture, Risk & the Prospect of Genetically Modified Organisms 3 Kia Tūpato and Kimihia te Mātauranga.................................................................. 41 The Slippery Slope Dilemma.................................................................................... 41 Kimihia te matāuranga.............................................................................................. 42 Risk Taking Kōrero................................................................................................... 43 Creative Responsibilities .......................................................................................... 46 Learning from the Past............................................................................................... 46 6. Institutions.................................................................................................................... 48 Whakapapa.................................................................................................................. 48 Definitional Attributes of Whakapapa as Articulated by Participants...................... 49 Whakapapa as Genetic and Ancestral Identity ......................................................... 49 Whakapapa and Biology........................................................................................... 52 Tuakana and Teina.................................................................................................... 53 Does GM Impact Whakapapa? ................................................................................. 55 Whakapapa as Unaffected by GM ........................................................................ 55 Whakapapa as Affected by GM............................................................................ 57 Ambivalence Regarding Effects of GM on Whakapapa....................................... 58 Kaitiakitanga............................................................................................................... 60 Rāhui......................................................................................................................... 61 Familiarity and Usage............................................................................................... 63 Taonga.......................................................................................................................... 64 What Makes Something a Taonga? .......................................................................... 64 How Should Taonga Be Considered?....................................................................... 66 Tikanga ........................................................................................................................ 68 Virtue, Ethics, and Values ........................................................................................ 68 Tikanga, Ritenga, and Kawa..................................................................................... 71 Considerations for the Development of a Tikanga for GM ...................................... 72 Karakia ........................................................................................................................ 73 Karakia and the Management of Transfer ................................................................ 76 Ensuring Compatibility......................................................................................... 76 Consultation With Spirit Realm (on the Subject of GM) ....................................