Keith Melville

To find out whether our tax money is being spent wisely, I occasionally visit the Taxpayers’ Union website.

Last Friday, I found their latest revelation involves people from our own district, who were given $156,000 through Massey University to carry out research into a three-metre by three-metre kumara patch at Rūātoki, through the lens of the Māori world view.

I have lived among Māori in our district long enough to know that they have a more holistic view of the world than Pākehā, who tend to have a utilitarian approach, and that the Māori view deserves our respect.

According to the Taxpayers' Union, to which I occasionally subscribe, the focus of the research was on the human dimensions of forest health and to seek the meaning people attach to the environment, ngahere (forest), and taiao (treasured) species, and to explore how this can be fostered and supported.

The purpose of the project was the “revitalisation of traditional hapū practices”.

Citing the research, the organisation said the kumara was chosen for the garden because of its status as the only food that “can be given to the gods”.

The research outcomes included a story book and a 20-minute “cultural video”.

A cost breakdown provided by the union shows $111,000 was spent on personnel costs, $5000 on koha, $10,000 on equipment, $25,000 on travel costs, and $5000 for a story map.

After reading the Taxpayers’ Union revelation, I thought that the Tūhoe involved should be given a chance to explain their view on the value and importance of the project.

From my own Euro-centric Pākehā view, I couldn’t help but think “is this really just a scandalous waste of money?”