Growing mātauranga Māori research

The Antarctic Science Platform is delighted to welcome Delane Luke (Ngāti Rarua, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Rarawa) into the Platform as Kaiārahi rangahau Māori, a role created to grow and enhance mātauranga Māori research and build connections between Māori and Antarctic scientists.

Delane is a proud raukura (graduate) of Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori, which has instilled within him the mātāpono (values) of Te Aho Matua, and he is passionate about supporting opportunities for rangatahi māori. He comes to the Platform from the Department of Internal Affairs, and was previously a qualitative researcher alongside Tokona Te Raki, as well as working for his iwi in different capacities.

The next part of the journey alongside the Platform and Kāhui Māori is something he is thoroughly looking forward to, as he gets to merge his knowledge of mātauranga Māori and the Antarctic space together. He sees it as an amazing opportunity to grow his knowledge of what is currently happening in the Antarctic and how that relates back to his whānau, hapu and iwi. The connection between Hui-te-Rangiora is one of the driving factors in applying for this position as he is a tupuna whose deeds are celebrated in Ngāti Rārua tribal narratives.