Te Manu Kai i Te Mātauranga: Indigenous Psychology in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Te Manu Kai I Te Matauranga: Indigenous Psychology in Aotearoa New Zealand brings together the perspectives of 18 Māori psychologists as they deal with the case of Ripeka, a young woman facing mental health challenges. Co-edited by Dr Waikaremoana Waitoki and Dr Michelle Levy, the book allows the authors to approach varying elements of Ripeka's care and provides vivid insight into Māori psychological practice. Dr Waitoki says Te Manu Kai I Te Matauranga is the fulfillment of a long held vision for Māori practitioners, researchers and teachers of psychology to claim their space within the discipline of psychology. Dr Levy says a distinct culturally defined space for Māori is absent within psychology. "Not only is it absent, there continues to be active resistance to the validity and legitimacy of indigenous peoples' knowledge bases within psychology." While providing invaluable information for psychology students and academics, the book will appeal to a broad audience offering insights to those dealing with mental health issues. One of the chapter authors Dr Simon Bennett, a senior lecturer at Massey University, believes the book has both national and international significance. "This book is hugely significant for indigenous aspirations in the psychology discipline because an indigenous voice, let alone a Māori voice, within the psychology literature has until now been at best fragmented. This book unifies diverse indigenous perspectives and is likely to be recognised internationally," Dr Bennett says.