Te Kōti Rangatahi o Mātaatua – Marae Youth Court: A Site of Limitless Potential

Abstract

This thesis explores what tikanga is, its philosophical foundations, and how te ao Māori worldview and historical experiences have shaped the tikanga of Te Kōti Rangatahi o Mātaatua, a marae-based Youth Court. Using kaupapa Māori methodology, pūrākau, observations, noho wahangū reflexive practice, and in-depth interviews with four kaumātua, the research led to the development of an original analysis framework: Te Pepe Ao Uri Whāriki using ngā hiki matau – the rightward strands. This framework weaves together the voices of kaumātua and observational data to create ngā kāwai toro, representing the extended strands of the whāriki that reflect the broader tikanga domains and their expressions through Māori epistemology, ontology, cosmogony, and metaphysical thought. This thesis also incorporates ngā hiki mauī as the leftward strands, which highlight the core tikanga values of Te Kōti Rangatahi o Mātaatua: kaumātuatanga and rangatiratanga, whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, wairuatanga, and kotahitanga, each with the same corresponding kāwai toro whenu. Together, these elements reveal tikanga as a dynamic, relational system, enabling te pānga o pepe ao uri, the butterfly effect, to be understood in terms of how tikanga lives, evolves, and impacts all those involved in Te Kōti Rangatahi, especially rangatahi Māori. The thesis argues that Te Kōti Rangatahi o Mātaatua is a powerful site of connectedness and restoration, while also cautioning against the risk of superficial engagement when tikanga is constrained within Pākehā systems. Ultimately, this thesis is a koha to my tīpuna and mokopuna mō āpōpō, calling for the protection and valuing of tikanga spaces, the elevation of kaumātua leadership, and the creation of whare wānanga-like spaces and the use of wānanga moments where rangatahi can learn who they are, where they come from, and how our histories and tikanga continue to shape our futures.