drives them out of universities
Last week a letter published in magazine The Listener claimed mātauranga Māori "falls short of what we can define as science" and to "accept it as the equivalent of science is to patronise and fail indigenous populations".
The controversial letter came in response to an NCEA working group report, which said "parity for mātauranga Māori with other bodies of knowledge" should be the goal in the Māori school curriculum.
Seven University of Auckland academics signed it - Kendall Clements, Garth Cooper, Michael Corballis, Douglas Elliffe, Elizabeth Rata, Robert Nola, and Emeritus Professor John Werry.
Dr Corballis, whose background is in neuroscience and language evolution, told The Hui he stood by its contents.
"Our main purpose was not to explain mātauranga Māori, our main purpose was to complain about the fact that kids are being taught that science is colonising and evil," he said. "It may have been a mistake to add stuff on mātauranga Māori. We were there primarily to defend science and that's what our article is for."
Link to article and video: Māori scientists say 'slow violence' of racism drives them out of universities (msn.com)
