First Ma¯ori science award winner calls out racism
Many years ago, when Dr Rangi Matamua was starting out in astronomy, he visited an observatory to ask if he could use their equipment.
‘‘The person there told me their equipment was for proper science, not myths and legends,’’ says Matamua.
Yesterday, Matamua was named New Zealand’s top science communicator, recognition for two decades of work focused on raising the profile of Ma¯ori astronomy, including teaching New Zealanders about Matariki.
The Tu¯ hoe astronomer is the first Ma¯ori to receive one of the Prime Minister’s annual, prestigious science awards since they were started in 2009.
He won’t name the observatory that turned him away years ago. But he has some sharp observations on how Ma¯ori scientists have struggled against racism.
Science is one of the last spheres that believe only western science is empirical, he says. What Ma¯ori do has been considered myths and legends.
‘‘It’s not our Ma¯ori fault we haven’t been recognised before,’’ says Matamua.
‘‘The scientific world is perhaps starting to realise the knowledge base we have and maybe starting to understand science is more than just what Western science practitioners believe it is.
‘‘I think perhaps they have issues believing that what we do is science half the time.
‘‘Yes, it is racist.’’ Matamua says there is empirical science in ma¯tauranga Ma¯ori, Ma¯ori knowledge, but it is much more than scientific practice.
‘‘There’s still the idea, we drifted here randomly on logs, arrived emaciated.
‘‘We were this barbaric primitive culture with no understanding of what real
science is. That’s just not true,’’ he says.
‘‘I think things are starting to change. But there is still that element of belief and idea within the scientific academy and in fact, it exists within modern day education systems.’’
Ma¯ori have always been scientists, says Matamua.
‘‘You don’t navigate that expansive ocean on myths and legends.’’
The Royal Society Te Apa¯rangi manages the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes, which are funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
President Professor Wendy Larner says Professor Matamua was the first Ma¯ori scientist to apply for the prize.
In the past two years, the event has moved its focus to actively encourage more Ma¯ori to participate.
‘‘We are delighted that Professor Matamua, a well-known iwi knowledge holder and brilliant science communicator, has won a prize this year,’’ says Larner.
The society has been supported by Professor of Indigenous Education at the University of Waikato, Linda Tuiwai Smith and Professor Jacinta Ruru, of the University of Otago to bring more diversity to the prizes and its judging panels.
As a teenager at Hato Paora boarding school in Manawatu¯ , Matamua failed fourth form science. ‘‘All I saw when I thought about science was coats, pocket protectors and middle-aged white men with spectacles,’’ he says.
He never considered a career in science until he started attending Victoria University and was given a manuscript by his grandfather that was written by one of their ancestors, Te Kokau Himiona Te Pikikotuku.
Matamua says Kokau started writing in 1897 and completed his 400-page manuscript on Ma¯ori astronomy in 1933.
Since then, Matamua has written and spoken extensively about Ma¯ori astronomy and
Matariki. He has also learned about Western astronomy and delivers his work in both te reo Ma¯ori and English.
His web series reached one million views in four months and more than 20,000 people followed his ‘‘Living by the Stars’’ Facebook posts.
Matamua hopes Matariki will become a public holiday.
‘‘We have imported all these other celebrations and practices like Easter, Christmas and Guy Fawkes, but Matariki can unite us here because it has got relevance to us,’’ says Matamua.
He plans to use the $75,000 award to help establish his own institute of Ma¯ori astronomy.