Ka pu te ruha ka hao te Rangatahi: the old net is cast aside, the new net goes fishing : an iwi based approach to retrieving information about Maori

Abstract

This report will examine the role of Online Public Access Catalogues (OPAC's) when locating Maori information and resources. It will examine Manukau Libraries current catalogue and compare it with a newly developed Maori interface, Ko wai ahau? (Who am I?). These comparisons have been derived through research and through focus groups of user and non-users of libraries. The comparison will highlight challenges and suggest recommendations for changes to Manukau Libraries current catalogue and could benefit other library systems. This information could potentially inform Manukau City Libraries and other New Zealand Public libraries of the changing needs of their customers. Another component of this project will be to produce an iwi bibliography. This will include mainly material in the Manukau Libraries collections relating to specific iwi kaupapa. Endnote software will be used to record the iwi bibliography. The tribal areas (e.g. Te Taitokerau) will correspond with the interface. Ko wai ahau is the interface that has been used in this project. It is the result of a new development of an interface that has been designed to assist when researching Maori iwi history, searching for whakapapa and information e.g. marae in Manukau City. It was developed to provide a user-friendly tool to assist Maori searching for their tribal material, provide another option for Manukau Libraries users and to access the current catalogue. Ko wai ahau is currently not available at Manukau Libraries. They are working with four other Auckland library systems to develop the Millennium Smarter system. However, it could be provided as a local option for their Maori users to have access to. Iwi Pathfinders will be used as a quick-find resource for popular tribal material. These have been attached as Appendix.