Abigail McLutchie, Aotearoa New Zealand

Brought up in Manurewa, South Auckland, I am working towards a PhD part-time at the Management and International Business Department of the University of Auckland Business School. I also work at the University of Auckland in the Te Fale Pouāwhina team as a Learning Adviser. In that role I engage Māori and Pacific students in academic literacy, leadership competencies, and postgraduate success in the Te Wheke Postgraduate Programme and Leadership through Learning programmes. 

My PhD research is interested in Māori entrepreneurship and seeks to understand the cultural values, practices, and activities that lead to the realisation of tino rangatiratanga, collective benefits and holistic well-being in both historical and contemporary Māori contexts. The title of my thesis is:

Navigating mahi rangatira in an entrepreneurial context: A Kaupapa Māori approach to Māori entrepreneurial endeavour past and present

My research interests are in Kaupapa Māori, entrepreneuring, rangatiratanga, business education, and teaching and learning practices and pedagogy that empower Māori and Pacific students’ leadership and learning success alongside the entrepreneurial spirit. A life-long learner, traveller, lover of te reo Māori me ona tikanga, believer of edu-action and transformative activism to realise rangatiratanga, I trust that Indigenous and global leaders can work together to create a world where we enjoy real peace, sustainability and happiness.