Re-Visioning Pacific Research Method/ologies

Abstract

Pacific research methodologies have global relevance. As they inform research across national sectors and the training of emerging scholars in Aotearoa, their impact continues to ripple outward abroad. In this introduction to our special issue we weave genealogies of Indigenous, Māori and Pacific advocacy and epistemological inquiry to situate this growth and acknowledge the full and rich lineage of our academic predecessors. These genealogies provide necessary context to this present moment and offer us the opportunity to critically engage with and extend these conversations. Subsequently, we outline our approach to this special issue, which included developing a unique double peer-review process shaped by Indigenous Pacific values to support robust scholarship and a communal approach to building knowledge. Finally, we provide an overview of each article contribution, divided into three themes: first, a call for deeper recognition of place and context; second, critical reflection on the practicalities of existing methods and methodologies in new contexts; and third, the reinvigoration of existing or building new methodologies and methods.