Value moves
Value can move through whānau, communities, providers, institutions and places.
Whakapapa Economics
Te uara me te whakapapa
Value does not stop at the individual.
A Māori-grounded way of making relational and intergenerational value visible. It traces how value moves through people, whānau, place, institutions, te taiao and future generations.
01
What it is A wider way to see value
Whakapapa Economics is an applied way of thinking about value. It starts from the idea that people are connected through relationships, obligations, place and time. A programme may change one person, but that change can also move through whānau, communities, institutions, te taiao and future generations.
It does not replace existing impact, social value or cost-benefit methods. It extends and deepens them by changing the value boundary: who and what counts, how far value travels, and how relational and intergenerational pathways are made visible.
02
Why it is needed What current methods often miss
Many Māori entities need to show their impact to funders, agencies, boards and communities. Current impact methods can be useful, but they often focus on short-term, individual and easily measured outcomes.
This can understate the real value created by Māori initiatives, especially where value moves through whānau, whakapapa, whenua, culture, trust, capability and future generations.
03
The core idea Relationships, time and evidence
Value unfolds
Value can unfold across future opportunities, mokopuna, ecological inheritance and long-term capability.
Value stays disciplined
Wider value still needs clear pathways, observable signals and careful boundaries.
04
How it works The same sequence, every time
The method first asks what kind of value may be created. It then traces how that value moves, defines the specific change, looks for signals, tests the evidence, and only then decides what can be quantified or valued.
- 01Context
Start with the kaupapa, people, place and relationships.
- 02Pathways
Trace how value may move.
- 03Constructs
Define the specific change.
- 04Signals
Look for signs that the pathway is present.
- 05Evidence
Test the strength of the evidence.
- 06Value
Value what can be defended.
05
Boundaries What it does not do
06
Applications Six ways to see relational value
These examples show how the method can be used in different settings. They are not templates or final answers — they are simple vignettes showing the pathways, signals and cautions that matter.
01
Māori Housing and Kāinga Continuity
Housing value may begin with repairs, but it can move through whānau routines, dignity, hosting, whenua connection and future kāinga continuity.
02Social Investment and Provider Outcomes
Provider value is not only service delivery. It can also sit in trust, earlier engagement, reduced crisis, whānau capability and stronger relationships with systems.
03Systems-Enabler Value
Some organisations create value through others. Whakapapa Economics helps trace capability, coordination, trust and institutional change.
04Research Impact and Māori Knowledge Pathways
Research value is not only publications. It can move through partnership, uptake, Māori knowledge legitimacy, policy change and future capability.
05Taiao and Kaitiakitanga Value
Environmental value is more than ecological indicators. It can include kaitiakitanga practice, mahinga kai, community participation and future inheritance.
06Iwi and Māori Investment Decisions
Investment value is not only financial return. It can also shape whānau wellbeing, whenua, rangatahi pathways, capability and future options for mokopuna.
Interactive tool
Trace a pathway yourself
The Pathway Explorer helps you think through possible value pathways. Choose a context, explore what may change, and see possible signals that could help make that value visible. It is free, fully open, and requires no sign-up.
The method paper
Read the foundations
The method paper sets out the theoretical and technical foundations of Whakapapa Economics in more detail. It is open access.
Applied work using Whakapapa Economics is undertaken through Matatihi.