<p>Te Kete T&#363;-&#256;tea (TKTA), research and k&#333;rero were recently shared at the Human Development &amp; Capabilities Association (HDCA) conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. TKTA is focused on the development of an iwi information framework alongside the Rangit&#299;kei Iwi Collective.</p>

<p>Kirikowhai Mikaere travelled to Buenos Aires to present TKTA research she carried out with Dr Heather Gifford and completed early in 2017. Colleagues and wh&#257;nau from Aotearoa &ndash; Lewis Williams (Whakauae Research), Jonathan Kilgour (Waikato University), Tamara Mutu (Te Arawa), Krushil Watene (Massey University) and sister Erena Mikaere-Most (Ruapehu Wh&#257;nau Transformation project, Ng&#257;ti Rangi) also presented at the conference.</p>

<p>The HDCA was launched in 2004, by inaugural President, Amartya Sen. Sen&rsquo;s Nobel prize winning &lsquo;capabilities approach&rsquo; work is closely linked to that of the M&#257;ori Statistics Framework (MSF). The MSF was developed by Whetu Wereta and Darin Bishop, with input from the original M&#257;ori Statistics Forum at Statistics New Zealand, approximately twenty years ago. TKTA is informed by the MSF and there are therefore also synergies between TKTA and the capabilities approach work that underpins the HDCA orientation, A notable difference though is the focus of the latter on individuals as opposed to TKTA&rsquo;s focus on the collective. TKTA iwi information framework is kaupapa iwi, kaupapa M&#257;ori and grounded in the k&#333;rero of each of the five iwi involved in its development &ndash; Ng&#257;ti Whitikaupeka, Ng&#257;ti Tamak&#333;piri, Ng&#257;ti Hauiti, Ng&#257;i Te Ohuake and Ng&#257; Wairiki-Ng&#257;ti Apa.</p>

<p>THE HDCA conference participants reiterated the importance of Indigenous peoples standing and articulating our stories in our way. Our stand builds the awareness of non-Indigenous peoples of the strength of our Indigenous voices and Indigenous knowledge systems. It was certainly a privilege to be able to share our Indigenous story, this whakaaro M&#257;ori, and to add my voice to the international kaupapa.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Kirikowhai Mikaere at the Human Development &amp; Capabilities Association (HDCA) conference" src="/uploads/images/IMG_8245-(4).jpg" style="height:344px; width:650px" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nei ra &#257;ku tino mihi ng&#257; iwi o te kaupapa nei me koutou r&#257; o Whakauae Research.</p>

<p>Naku iti nei</p>

<p>Kirikowhai Mikaere</p>
