NGA PUN1 WHAKAPIRI: INDIGENOUS STRUGGLE AND GENETIC ENGINEERING Paul F. A. Reynolds (Ngati Tuwharetoa, Nga Puhi) B.M.S., Waikato University, New Zealand, 1992 M.M.S. (with Distinction), Waikato University, New Zealand, 1996 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the School of Communication O Paul F. A. Reynolds 2004 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY August 2004 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL NAME: Paul F. A. Reynolds (Ngati Tuwharetoa, Nga Puhi) DEGREE: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY TITLE OF THESIS: NGA PUN1 WHAKAPIRI: INDIGENOUS STRUGGLE AND GENETIC ENGINEERING EXAMINING COMMITTEE: CHAIR: Dr. Roger Howard, Professor School of Communication, SFU Dr. P. Howard, Professor, Senior Supervisor School of Communication, SFU Dr. G. H. Smith, Professor Visiting Distinguished Professor in Indigenous Studies, UBC Faculty of Education, UoA Dr. R. Anderson, Professor School of Communication, SFU Dr. Y. Zhao, Professor School of Communication, SFU Internal Examiner Dr. M. Stewart-Harawira, Research Fellow Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, UoA External Examiner Date Approved Partial Copyright Licence The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. The author has further agreed that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by either the author or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. The original Partial Copyright Licence attesting to these terms, and signed by this author, may be found in the original bound copy of this work, retained in the Simon Fraser University Archive. Bennett Library Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, Canada ABSTRACT This thesis argues that the notion of struggle is culturally based. Struggle for Indigenous peoples centres around the protection of all things they hold precious. Indigenous peoples are used to resisting colonial threats to the integrity of their knowledge and culture. Biotechnology is a contemporary site of struggle where Indigenous peoples have been resisting the onslaught of genetic engineering and manipulation and the theft and con~modificationof their knowledge. Maori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), view this site of struggle as a continuation of colonialism in the form of biocolonialism. This thesis presents a case study examining the struggle of Maori against the biotechnology industry and genetic engineering. The foundational philosophy upon which this thesis has been based is Kaupapa Maori. Kaupapa Maori is a uniquely Indigenous theory and methodology with a central function of claiming and engaging in theory for Maori and by Maori. As well as examining the political economy within which this struggle takes place, members of the Nga Puni Whakapiri movement (the term used to describe Maori groups gathered together to resist biotechnology and genetic engineering) are interviewed to examine their actions, strategies and philosophies that underpin their struggle. Central to this struggle is the notion of "tikanga" - correct and appropriate action that is based on a number of principles that those interviewed elaborate on. Maori have been very active in recent anti-GE activity; this thesis argues that this is a logical extension of the notion of kaitiakitanga or cultural guardianship and protection, sourced from the ancestors. This work acknowledges that there i:s an Indigenous worldview that is valid and that has legitimacy in both public and private forums. When assessing research that has the potential to impact Maori communities and in decision-making affecting whanau (family), hapu (sub-tribe), and iwi (tribe), the tikanga Maori worldview is central. Developing from this work is an emerging theory of Maori struggle. The Nga Puni Whakapiri movement is a case study of a uniquely Indigenous form of struggle. Struggle is centred on the protection of knowledge and culture, tikanga Maori knowledge. DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to all my whanau who have helped me so much, with special aroha to my Nana, Kahureremoa Nancy Garland, and baby. This thesis is also dedicated to Dr Cherry1 Waerea-i-te-rangi Smith, for this thesis would not be in existence without her continued support. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to the many people who have shined the light on the path in my journey here. I am eternally grateful to all my whanau who have supported my work throughout the years, especially my parents, Reipai Leiana and Barry, my grandmother, Kahureremoa Nancy Garland, my aunty, Wakahuia Judy Garland, and my brother, Leon, as well as all my extended whanau who live across the country from Bluff to the far north. Thank you also to my cousin Shannon for her help and for putting up with me in our little whare during this thesis completion time. I know also that my grandfather, Te Whetumarama o te Ata (Fred) Garland, was with me always throughout this journey. Papa continues to be with me now. I am also indebted to the many advisors and friends in New Zealand who were instrumental in my shift to Simon Fraser University, including Professor Margaret McLaren, Desna Dury, Marie Flynn, and my colleagues and friends at The Waikato Polytechnic. I am grateful for the many wonderful colleagues and friends that I made while being part of the Simon Fraser University School of Communication graduate community. I am thankful of the international camaraderie between Mavis Jones and Albert Banerjee and our collaborative efforts at producing work and ideas. I am thankful also to the group of students and mates that surrounded the Professors Howard, including Mavis Jones, Albert Banerjee, Lorena Jara, Camilla Berry, Sukhwant Hundal, Chaw Pui, Andres Dimitriu, Michael Markwick, Sebastian and Cecilia, Imran and Nazi, Shamshad and Koushambhi, Mavis MacMillen, Maria Paule, Gao Hongzhi, Fiona Jeffries, Manisha and Heiko, and the many others past, present and future; our little PhD study group, including Ted and Sharla; and the many other colleagues and friends in the School of Communication, Simon Fraser University, and beyond. I am also grateful for my time with the many students and colleagues in the independent film production cooperative, Electric Shadows Guild, where we got to produce academic critique vii in another medium, including Professor Roger Howard, Koon Lim, Sasha Wood, and Jennifer Rashleigh. I am also very thankful for the wonderful friends I had the time to get to know while in Vancouver, including Ying-Fen Huang, Janin Hadlaw, Koon Lim and Beverly Lee, Quinton and Fan, Samantha Siu, Greg Vickers, and Orion. I especially thank Fen for looking after everything for me in Vancouver while I was away, Samantha and her family for their hospitality when I returned for my defense, and Greg for helping me complete the submission requirements for the thesis. I am also most appreciative of the support I was given by Don Klassen. I would also like to make a cheeky mention and thank you to the producers of Coronation Street for the much needed hour break away from the thesis each Tuesday and Thursday evening on TV 1, especially when I was intensively writing at my parents home in Hamilton from July 2003 to January 2004. If it were not for the support and participation of the people I interviewed, this thesis would not exist. I am very grateful to the members of Nga Wahine Tiaki o te Ao and Te Waka Kai Ora, especially Professor Graham Smith, Dr Cherryl Smith, Dr Leonie Pihama, Angeline Greensill, Jacqui Amohanga, Maree Pene, Annette Sykes, Mahinekura Reinfeld, Theresa Reihana and Percy Tipene. I am also grateful to the many other people I interviewed and talked to for the thesis, including my parents, Nana, Aunty Judy, Uncle Ray Kapa, Aunty Paula Puru, and Marty Robinson. A special thank you also to my brother Leon for his awesome creativity, which appears in this thesis. Heartfelt thanks also to Toroa Pohatu for giving permission to use her waiata in this thesis. I am also indebted to the work of Debra Harry and her Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism newsgroup and Don Bain and the Protecting Knowledges newsgroup for the invaluable wealth of information that was available around the issues that affected our Indigenous communities worldwide. Access to these specialized and centralized sources of information .. Vlll pertinent to Indigenous communities was essential in the writing of this thesis. I thank Debra also for her continued support of my work. 1 am also indebted to my colleagues at Nga Pae o te Maramatanga who have given me the opportunity to be in a stimulating and vibrant environment that has as its central kaupapa, research for Maori and by Maori. Thank you to Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Associate Professor Michael Walker, Dr Clive Aspin, Emeritus Professor Les Tumoana, Dr Mere Kepa, Mera Penehira and Sharon Hawke, Donna Gardiner, Simon Rangiwahia, and Premika Sirisena. A big thank you to Linda, Michael and Clive for supporting completion of the thesis and funding travel back to Vancouver for the defense. A special thank you to Donna, Jan Sinclair and Simon for help completing the final thesis. Thank you also to my colleagues in IRI, Dr Leonie Pihama, Lucy, Ali and Kaapua, and Maori Studies. Thank you also to Ngarimu Daniels for her support. I am thankful for all of the Professors and staff who have played various roles in the tlme I have spent studying at Simon Fraser Univer4ty, including Neena Shahani, Lucie Menkveld, Evelyn Hassen, Denyse Zenner, Professor Allson Beale, Professor Gail Faurschou, Professor Bob Anderson, and Professors Pat and Roger Howard.