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A University of Auckland professor has stepped down as acting dean of science after backlash to a letter he co-authored claiming Māori knowledge “is not science”.
Professor of Psychology Douglas Elliffe emailed the science faculty to say his role in writing the letter meant his leadership had the potential to “increase division” among the university’s scientific community.
Elliffe was one of seven professors to sign the letter published in the Listener magazine last week in response to proposed changes to the Māori school curriculum.
Those changes are meant to put mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) on a par with other types of knowledge, particularly Western knowledge.
Auckland University Māori academic Daniel Hikuroa says it’s important to acknowledge both the good and bad of science - and to see it from outside a purely western frame.
The university’s Professor of Psychology, Douglas Elliffe, has stepped down from his role as acting faculty dean in response to the backlash over a letter he co-authored saying mātauranga Māori falls far short of what can be defined as science.
Dr Hikuroa says science is a method for generating knowledge, and much of mātauranga Māori including maramataka and astronomy is knowledge generated using the scientific method.
The University of Auckland and Royal Society are distancing themselves from a contentious letter dismissing mātauranga Māori by some top academics.
University of Auckland vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater says the letter does not represent the views of the university. (File image)
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
The letter, published in
The Listener last week, was signed by seven professors from the University of Auckland: Kendall Clements, Garth Cooper, Michael Corballis, Douglas Elliffe, Elizabeth Rata, Emeritus Professor Robert Nola, and Emeritus Professor John Werry.
They raise their concerns about an NCEA working group s proposed changes to the school curriculum that will ensure parity for mātauranga Māori with other bodies of knowledge.
University of Auckland professor steps down after claiming mātauranga Māori is not science stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.