Psychology training, theory and practice risks being seen as stuck in a time warp and increasingly irrelevant for modern Aotearoa and global contexts. Around 43% of the births in Aotearoa comprise babies of Maori and Pacific Nations descent. One in three school age children are also of Maori and Pacific Nations descent. Research indicates that many Maori have little respect for, or faith in, psychology at present. What does this mean for the conceptualization of psychology today and in the near future? What are the implications for psychology training, theorizing and practice? It is proposed here that psychology educators, researchers and practitioners will require some specific tools, currently often neglected, and a significant change in orientation if the profession is to gain and maintain credibility through the 21st Century.
Catherine Love (Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngati Ruanui, Ngaruahinerangi) has worked in the arena of Maori and indigenous development for 25 years. In education Catherine’s experience has ranged from kaiawhina at the first Kohanga Reo in the Manawatu, to Lecturer in a variety of domains at Massey University, and the Open Polytechnic, to Director of Indigenous Research and Development at Victoria University of Wellington, School of Psychology and NGO community education provider with Koru Institute of Training and Education. Catherine also represents Maori communities as Treaty negotiator for the multi-iwi claims at Te Upoko o te Ika, as a member of the New Zealand Psychologists Board and Hutt Valley District Health Board. Catherine has recently worked as a senior advisor to the Hui Taumata Taskforce and Manager of NFTE entrepreneurship programmes.
