Postcolonial multiplicities: indigeneity in flux

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the complex journey of Māori (Indigenous peoples of New Zealand) indigeneity in a postcolonial and multicultural context. The experiences and perspectives of elderly Māori individuals affiliated by kinship to Ngāti Hei (a Māori tribe, eastern Coromandel Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand) are examined through interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis highlights psychosocial and psychospiritual themes of identity and belonging. The study discusses the challenges contemporary Māori face in reconnecting with their cultural heritage and the impact of colonisation on Māori identity formation. It highlights embracing the spiritual domain of Māoriness and engaging in cultural hybridity to foster a deeper sense of identity and belonging. The findings suggest that Māori identity transcends rigid categorisations and that a dynamic understanding of Māoriness is essential, offering seeds of a potential framework for navigating the third space, where multicultural contact and interaction can give rise to new and inclusive forms of Māori identity.