Tikanga and Ethical Considerations for Visual Research with Rangatahi Māori

Visual research is a powerful tool to communicate lived experiences of marginalised communities (Hodgetts et al. 2022). However, there is still much ethical consideration to navigate in the space for researchers working with Māori engaging in visual research, particularly as it relates to Māori data sovereignty (MDS). Institutional ethics are not set up in ways that take account of tikanga in relation to visual research with Māori. Using <i>Te Rōpū Hiko</i>, <i>Harnessing the Spark of Life</i>, as a case study, we unpack how we navigated MDS in ethics when engaging with photo data. A values-based framework grounded in kaupapa Māori principles (mātāpono) was developed to guide visual research through the first author's master's thesis, fostering critical dialogue and aligning with Māori aspirations. This framework encourages ethical integrity, participant autonomy, and cultural responsiveness in research with rangatahi Māori and their communities. This manuscript emphasises the importance of all researchers engaging respectfully with Māori communities through embedding cultural practices like Māori tikanga into research.