March 31, 2023
Borrowed kupu come with consequences
A Māori intellectual property lawyer says appropriation of Māori matauranga is a growing problem.
Lynell Tuffery-Huria of Ngāti Ruanui and Ngā Ruahine says too many non-Māori think they can just apply Māori words, names and concepts to what they are doing – and Māori should see it as an honour.
That includes adding 47 kupu Māori words and slang like kia ora e hoa and chur to the Oxford English Dictionary as a part of a ‘Kiwi update’.
“I’m not aware of what the process is they go through for these names or kupu Māori to be added to the dictionary – or any other kupu to be fair. But I just think there needs to be discussion about whether that approach is the right approach – that they have adopted? Do they get any input from Maori?” she says.
Lynell Tuffery-Huria says if government or private organisations adopt a Māori name, they need to consider the responsibilities that come with that and whether they can live up to that kupu.