Matthew Tukaki, executive director NZ Māori Council; Professor Mohan Dutta, director of CARE; Professor Gary Raumati-Hook, advisor to the NZ Māori Council; Sir Eddie Taihākurei Durie, chairperson of the NZ Māori Council; Dr Steve Elers, communication lecturer at the MAssey Business School; Donna Hall, legal advisor to the NZ Māori Council.

The New Zealand Māori Council has announced a strategic research partnership with Massey University and its Centre for Culture-Centred Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE).

The partnership will see the joint development and co-design of evaluation frameworks around key areas of social policy. It will also lead to the development of an evidence base to support the council when it comes to challenges facing Māori, whānau and communities across New Zealand.

Sir Taihākurei Durie, chairperson of the Māori Council, has welcomed the partnership as a new era for the council as it plots its course around social and economic policy leadership and development.

"We all know the challenges our people face and many of the models that are currently out there, from corrections and justice to health, education, housing and more are just not working," he says.

Sir Taihākurie Durie is the former chief judge of the Māori Land Court, chair of the Waitangi Tribunal and justice of the High Court.

The partnership is a coup for Massey University and CARE, which recently relocated to Massey University from the National University of Singapore.

CARE director Professor Mohan Dutta brought the research centre to Massey University when commenced in the position of dean’s chair of Communication at the Massey Business School. He says the partnership as a turning point in how social policy is developed, ensuring it is not in isolation to the very people its intended to support.

"Experiences of political, economic, and social disenfranchisement are often rooted in the lack of recognition of communities as decision-makers," he says. "CARE is excited to partner with the Māori Council to co-develop community-grounded frameworks for designing and evaluating solutions that are embedded in Māori community life."

Dr Steve Elers, Ngāti Kauwhata, communication lecturer at the Massey Business School and CARE researcher, brought the two parties together after identifying they shared a common approach.

"This waka is moving forward and we invite Massey staff with shared research interests to jump on board with us," he says.

CARE has recently employed new staff, including two postdoctoral fellows. New PhD researchers will begin work in the centre early next year. More information about CARE is available online .