Chris Szekely

Ko te manu kai i te miro, nona te ngahere.
Ko te manu kai i te matauranga, nona te ao.

The bird that eats of the miro tree owns the forest.
The bird that feasts on knowledge owns the world.

The above whakatauki [2] is a traditional Maori proverb, and was recently adopted by Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, the Library & Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa [LIANZA]. Referring to the importance of knowledge as a tool for empowerment, the use of these words as a signature statement for the Association reflects something of the distance travelled by New Zealand libraries as they seek to meet the needs of Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand Aotearoa.

This paper provides a broad overview of the journey taken by New Zealand libraries, in general terms, over the last 40 years relating to services to Maori. The journey has been an eventful one, guided by a changing environment and fuelled by urgent needs. Some of these events are described in this paper, together with a closer look at how one Library—Manukau Libraries—is seeking to respond to Maori information needs.

Since the early 1960s New Zealand librarians have expressed concern about the lack of engagement libraries have with Maori. In 1963 a report to the New Zealand Library Association noted that Maori were unaware of the range of library services available and consequently not using libraries in numbers comparable to the wider population. [3] The report identified a need to improve services on several fronts and make greater efforts to recruit Maori into the library profession.

Thirty years later the Association initiated the Te Ara Tika project which sought to "promote the development of biculturalism in library services, and in the library and information profession." [4] In English, the term "te ara tika" translates into "the right path," the name specifically chosen to demonstrate the profession's commitment to following a path to a bicultural future.

The project consisted of two parts. Part one was an analysis conducted in 1993 of the activities, research and issues relating to biculturalism and services to Maori from the perspective of the library profession. Part two, completed in 1997, comprised of research directly into Maori opinion on libraries and Maori information needs. The Te Ara Tika Guiding Voices Report (1997) identified 6 main themes. The themes, ranked in order of prominence, were:

• Issues relating to Intellectual access and information literacy
• The need to focus on Maori youth, literacy and relationships between libraries and schools
• Issues relating to Maori staffing
• The need or desire to have Maori libraries
• The need to take libraries out to Maori communities and increase targeted promotion
• Issues relating to intellectual property.

The report concluded that the key issues were generally the same as those identified some 30 years prior. While acknowledging that many libraries were actively engaging with these issues, and implementing a variety of programmes and initiatives, what was lacking was the ability to measure the impact of these activities or chart progress.

While it is true that the key issues affecting Maori usage of libraries have remained largely unchanged to the present day, the last 40 years have certainly seen significant societal changes take place in New Zealand in social, cultural and political terms. This changing environment brought with it a more urgent impetus for libraries and Maori to engage with one another.

For example, prior to the 1960s, Maori society was still largely rural-based, with many Maori maintaining strong links to tribal heartlands, and a cultural confidence and fluency in the Maori language. It was therefore not surprising that Maori were not seen in great numbers as library users. The 1950s and 60s however, heralded the beginning of a steady Maori migration to towns and cities, as rural living became difficult to sustain and employment opportunities more limited.

By the 1970s the Maori population had become predominantly urban-based, and, like many other colonised indigenous minorities throughout the world, were (and still are) experiencing chronic social problems. These include higher rates of unemployment, mortality and imprisonment, and lower rates of income, good health and educational achievement. These trends were not especially new, but given the new urban-based nature of Maoridom, the issues were more visible, and considered to be more acute.

As mentioned above, the comparatively poor social conditions of Maori are not unique to the New Zealand situation when considering the overall context of colonisation and experiences of indigenous minorities world-wide. However, there are some distinguishing factors which are relevant when considering the relationship with libraries.

The first of these relates to the way in which New Zealand was colonised in the early 19th century. Missionaries had established an early foothold in the country, and had developed an orthography for the Maori language. Thereafter, through missionary teachings, Maori rapidly became literate in their own language, generating a wealth of written material. Many of these writings are now held in research libraries throughout New Zealand.

By 1840 it was evident that New Zealand was becoming a significant destination for European settlement. Consequently, the British Crown entered into a Treaty with Maori, which established British rule over the country, while guaranteeing Maori ongoing ownership of their lands, fisheries and other possessions.

The Treaty of Waitangi is considered to be New Zealand's founding document of nationhood. By the late-19 th century however, the intent of the Treaty had become largely disregarded due to the mounting pressures of European settlement. These pressures involved protracted warfare relating to land ownership, unfair government legislation, and a significant shift in demographics as the Maori population declined to become a minority. The template for ongoing Maori poverty was thus established.

Following the urbanisation of Maori, the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi re-emerged in the 1970s, along with a renaissance of Maori cultural pride and determination to address social problems. A Tribunal was established by the Government to hear claims under the Treaty of Waitangi.

An early claim upheld by the Waitangi Tribunal related to the Maori language. It was deemed that the actions of the Crown had seriously compromised the viability of the Maori language as a living language. Subsequently, in 1987, Maori was declared an official language of New Zealand. A Commission was established charged with the responsibility of fostering the language as a language of everyday use

By the late-1980s there were more than 500 claims lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal. In researching their claims, and tracing the processes by which land and other possessions were alienated, Maori were able to turn to the wealth of written material that had been produced by their ancestors in the late 19 th century. These writings were also a valuable resource for the resurgence of the Maori language. As much of this material was now held in the nation's research institutions, the need for libraries and Maori to engage with one another became inescapable.

Thus in 1992, in recognition of the need to better serve Maori, the Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, incorporated the Treaty of Waitangi into its mission statement and adopted a Maori name: Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa ["the bound pages of New Zealand"]. The Te Ara Tika project was initiated, and a wave of activity swept through New Zealand libraries as various bicultural programmes, plans and strategies were implemented. [5]

Of particular significance at this time, was the establishment of Te Ropu Whakahau, the Maori Library & Information Workers' Association. This group has worked closely alongside LIANZA over the last decade to ensure that the Treaty of Waitangi is promoted in library and information work. Approximately 200 Maori are thought to be working in libraries throughout New Zealand.

Earlier in this article, it was mentioned that many libraries throughout New Zealand have been actively implementing programmes and initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of Maori. One of the challenges however, has been the inability to measure the impact of these activities, or chart progress. In seeking to embark upon Te Ara Tika, a bicultural path to the future, how can libraries maintain the momentum and stay the distance without a road map?

The following is a brief account of one library's journey, and the development of a strategy, or map, to chart their progress with services to Maori.

Manukau City was established in 1965 and is located in the wider Auckland region in the northern part of New Zealand's North Island. The City is spread across an area of around 700 square kilometres—about the same size as Singapore—and is home to some 300,000 people. Covering both rural and urban zones, Manukau is one of New Zealand's largest and fastest-growing cities, with a culturally-diverse and young population. Roughly half of Manukau City residents are of European descent, followed by Maori (16%), Pacific Islanders (27%) and Asians (15%). Thirty-five percent are under the age of twenty. [6]

The City's diversity is reflected in its library service. In the New Zealand context, Manukau Libraries is one of the country's biggest public libraries. It is a dispersed system comprised of 12 community libraries, 5 volunteer rural libraries, a corporate library, a mobile book bus, and a research library. Over 220 staff are employed in 135 fulltime-equivalent positions.

In the 2002/2003 year more than 3 million items were issued from a total collection of just under 720,000 items. Over 2.5 million visits were made to libraries across the city, with a further monthly average of 11,000 visits to the Library's website. Usage of the Library's services continues to steadily grow every year, along with a programme of system expansion. Three more community libraries are scheduled to open over the next four years.

Manukau is home to the largest concentration of Maori population in New Zealand, with over 44,000 residents claiming Maori ancestry. Accordingly, significant efforts have been made to develop services that are appropriate and relevant to the needs of Maori. In the late 1980's and early 1990's Manukau was among the first public libraries in New Zealand to establish Maori specialist staffing, implement signage in the Maori language, and introduce bicultural training programmes for staff.

For more than a decade there have been numerous initiatives, programmes and events aimed at increasing Maori usage of the Library. More recently there have been greater efforts made to track whether or not these activities are making a difference. In 1996 the Library undertook its first extensive survey aimed at understanding the needs of Maori residents. A follow-up study was done in 2001 which gave the Library an opportunity to assess any movement of opinion or change in usage patterns over a five year period.

The survey findings were generally encouraging. The 2001 study indicated that more Maori were using Manukau Libraries then before, as well as more regularly. Over half of the survey respondents had used the Library at least once during the preceding year, with the majority visiting fortnightly or monthly. This represented a 13% increase over the figures for 1996.

Maori Library users indicated a high level of satisfaction with the Library with around 80% rating the overall service as good or excellent. Opinions of the Library staff, their approachability and willingness to assist also rated positively. Against these positive results however, was a more worrying trend toward fewer Maori actually joining the Library, and a decrease in those who borrowed books to take home.

Both studies showed interesting differences between users and non-users of the Library. Library users were more likely to have an academic qualification, and be more actively involved in activities such as Maori language education and cultural performance groups. Maori library users were also more likely to have some fluency in the Maori language than were non-users.

Reasons cited by non-users for not using the Library included uncertainty over the use of technology, poor reading ability, and a disinclination to ask for assistance.

A new area of enquiry introduced in the 2001 survey was a section on Maori access to, and use of information technology. The study indicated that 44% of Maori households in the City owned a computer and printer, with ownership significantly higher amongst library users (54%) compared to non-users (34%). Approximately half of the survey respondents had access to the Internet, although a far lesser number considered themselves to be Internet literate.

In general terms, the study results were pleasing, indicating that Library services in Manukau are relevant and make a positive difference to the lives of Maori residents.

The studies are also useful tools for informing the ongoing development and planning of Maori services. In 2002 Manukau Libraries developed a Maori Service Strategy called Te Ao Marama. The Strategy acknowledges the Treaty of Waitangi as the basis for developing organisational relationships with Maori in Manukau City. The expectation is that these relationships will be reflected in the way the Library is staffed and operated, in the development of collections and resources, and in the delivery of appropriate services.

The Te Ao Marama Strategy is structured on a framework based on internal and external processes. The internal processes relate to such things as recruitment, Maori staff support, staff training and collection development, while the external aspects include the delivery of targeted programmes and events, usage, promotion and presentation of Library collections and facilities, and ongoing liaison with Maori customers, residents and tribal groups.

Te Ao Marama also signalled the need for a Maori language strategy to implement a commitment to fostering the use and profile of the Maori language in the way the Library operates and in the delivery of services. A recent questionnaire indicated that staff are positive and willing to improve their Maori language abilities, ranging from mainly basic correct pronunciation through to full fluency. A training plan is currently being devised to support this.

Another recent and unique Maori service innovation relates to the Manukau Libraries website. Manukau Libraries is the only library in New Zealand to offer its website as a fully-bilingual service in English and Maori. The Maori language version of the site receives usage comparable to that of the Library's hardcopy Maori collection resources, with usage steadily increasing. A recent general customer survey indicated that there is greater awareness of the existence of the Library's web services among Maori residents, than the Manukau population generally.

Conclusion

This article has provided a general overview of some of the developments in New Zealand library services over the last several decades, as they relate to Maori services. New Zealand libraries have an important role to play in assisting Maori research efforts as they relate to Treaty claims, as well as supporting the resurgence of the Maori language. In responding to this role, many libraries throughout the 1980's and 1990's implemented a range of programmes and initiatives. However, it is difficult to ascertain the impact of these activities in terms of addressing key ongoing issues relating to access to library services, information literacy and Maori staffing. Manukau Libraries is one example of a public library taking a proactive approach to serving a sizeable Maori population. The true challenge however, is to be active in a way that is meaningful, measurable and sustainable within a changing social environment, particularly as knowledge becomes an economic commodity in the Information Age. New Zealand libraries have made a strong start in establishing a pathway for the delivery of services to Maori. The challenge now, is to stay the distance.

Notes

1. This article is based on an expanded version of a paper delivered at the International Indigenous Librarians Forum in Jokkmokk, Sweden in 2001.

2. Editor's note: Whakatauki means proverb, aphorism or saying. There is a helpful Maori dictionary online, the Ngata Dictionary, part of the Learning Media Te Pou Taki Körero (a Crown-owned New Zealand company) site at http://www.learningmedia.co.nz/ngata/

3. New Zealand Library Association. Maori Service Committee. "Library service to Maori: report to the NZLA Council" New Zealand libraries vol 26, no 10, November 1963, pp.255-261.

4. MacDonald, 1993. p.5.

5. An extensive description of these can be found in Garraway & Szekely 1994.

6. Manukau City census 2001 results. www.manukau.govt.nz

References

Garraway, John & Chris Szekely. Ka mahi tonu: biculturalism in New Zealand librarianship 1992 – 1994 . Wellington : the N Strategy Bicultural Actions Group in association with the New Zealand Library & Information Association Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, 1994.

MacDonald, Tui. Te ara tika: Maori and libraries: a research report .

Wellington: New Zealand Library Association Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, 1993.

New Zealand Library Association. Maori Service Committee. "Library service to Maori: report to the NZLA Council." New Zealand libraries. vol 26, no 10, November 1963, pp.255-261.

Szekely, Chris. Te ara tika guiding voices. Wellington : New Zealand Library & Information Association Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, 1997.

About the Author

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© 2002 Chris Szekely

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