Career Decisions, Experiences, and Aspirations of Wāhine Māori Who Wear Moko Kauae

Abstract

This research explores the career decisions, experiences, and aspirations of wāhine Māori, offering insights to better support their positioning within workplaces and across the economy. Historically, wāhine Māori have been disadvantaged in professional contexts due to colonisation (Waitangi Tribunal, 2018). This study challenges dominant narratives about wāhine Māori in professional contexts and expands the body of knowledge on Māori career journeys.

It responds to two central research questions: 1. What are the career experiences of women who wear moko kauae? 2. What role do career experiences and aspirations play in decisions to wear moko kauae?

Anchored in kaupapa Māori and mana wāhine theory, the study draws on in-depth kōrero with wāhine who generously shared their experiences. Through this exploration, the research reveals that visible cultural expressions such as moko kauae are not only acts of cultural affirmation but also sites of tension within professional spaces, where institutional bias and emotional labour persist. These insights challenge organisations to move beyond performative diversity frameworks and instead embrace approaches that are attuned to the relational, cultural, and aesthetic dimensions of wāhine Māori with visible markers of cultural identity.