Māori Research Data Governance in New Zealand Universities

Universities in Aotearoa generate and hold large volumes of research data, including increasing amounts of Māori data shaped by Vision Mātauranga. Yet practice around Māori Data Sovereignty (MDSov) remains uneven, with commitments often aspirational rather than operational. This article assesses how Tiriti-led institutions are upholding the mana and mauri of Māori data as taonga and identifies how bureaucratic inertia maintains the gap between policy signals and everyday research practice. Using a data ecosystem lens, we consider the roles of actors, stakeholders and Māori as rightsholders across the research lifecycle. A case study of Waipapa Taumata Rau highlights both progress and fragmentation. We synthesise recent Māori and Indigenous data governance developments and propose practical steps to shift from voluntary alignment to accountable practice. We argue that meaningful implementation of Māori Research Data Governance is necessary for universities to act as kaitiaki and ensure Māori benefit from data use and reuse.