We are a group of critical Māori scholars, thinkers and activists across several universities and disciplines, all interested in contributing to a more intentional discussion about, and practising of Māori philosophy, such as Māori forms of thought, critique and scholarship. Without wanting to assume that there is a pure, authentic Māori self, we aim to develop a space for critical Māori forms of decolonial theory and philosophy that is creative, generative, productive, relevant and speaks to the Maori experience. Our work affirms the importance of ideas in our Maori, indigenous and relational worlds. As a group we explore decolonial/decolonizing discourses; to practice our right to think and philosophise as Māori. We see our work as connecting to and drawing on multiple other Māori traditions, texts and artefacts. We are interested in:

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• Critical questions related to Māori political aspirations and decolonial practice;

• Epistemological questions such as how to approach the incommensurability between science and mātauranga Māori; and

• Ontological questions such as what it means to be Māori, and how to be Māori today.

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A group identifying as ‘Māori academics’ transgresses and disrupts displinary boundaries. The very idea of ‘Māori philosophy raises a challenge to (Eurocentric) philosophy. Our work is trans- and inter-disciplinary in method and theory. We hope to create a presence in the indigenous theory and philosophy space in which other ‘natives’ might wish to participate and build together.

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We are interested in Māori philosophical ideas placed within an ongoing dialogue with other philosophy and traditions of thought. We see Māori philosophy as a human engagement that draws on our own knowledges but recognises our links to human thought more generally. Different modes of production operate in a post-capitalist world, and Māori philosophy as a concept raises a challenge to traditional (Western) philosophy that is (potentially, at least) transgressive. We are interested in working with Māori philosophical ideas in ways that are useful for contemporary questions. In this work there is a sense of urgency, balanced against a future-looking generational gaze. Our collective longer term goal is to contribute to expanding a dialogue, in developing a corpus of work in Māori Philosophy that transcends time and space, as well as individual contributions and careers.