Research Symposium              

The theme for the Symposium is - Making Research a Springboard and not an Anchor 

This symposium will feature a mix of presentations and a facilitated co-production workshop to agree on terms of reference to measure the value of indigenous tourism. The aspiration is for researchers to go back to their countries and undertake research on the value of indigenous tourism using these terms of reference, and reporting back at the next summit on their findings. 

The Symposium themes will include discussions on: capacity building in the industry, the commodification of culture, sustainable management of resources, commercial sustainability and socio-economic benefits for communities.

If you are an established indigenous researcher, or are a new/emerging indigenous researcher, who has interest in taking part in forging terms of reference used world wide, and contributing to an international research agenda, then this symposium is for you.

We also encourage the participation of indigenous tourism operators with an interest in contributing to the development of the terms of reference and how we can better quantify the value of indigenous tourism.

The Symposium will be chaired by - Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith PhD, FRSNZ, CNZM

Professor Smith is from Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Porou. She is well known internationally for her work on Decolonising Methodologies and Indigenous Methodologies. Linda is currently Professor of Maori and Indigenous Studies in the Faculty of Maori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato. She is a member of the Waitangi Tribunal and the Maori Economic Development Board and has previously served on several high level Boards and Research organisations. Linda is also a former PVC Maori and Dean of the School of Maori and Indigenous Studies, a former negotiator for the Ngati Porou Treaty Settlement and one of the joint founding Directors of the Maori Centre of Research Excellence.