Journal History
The concept of a Journal of Māori Studies was first raised at a national Te Matawhānui forum and later developed on behalf of all Māori Studies by the Department of Māori Studies at Massey University.
He Pukenga Kōrero was a response to the growth in Māori Studies Departments in all New Zealand Universities, Whare Wānanga and other tertiary institutions and the subsequent need for appropriate publication outlets that could provide a suitable forum primarily for Māori academic authors to engage in issues related to Māori development.
The journal name was suggested by Te Karauna Whakamoe, a respected Tūhoe kaumātua who together with his wife Huia Whakamoe were the pakeke of Te Kupenga o te Mātauranga, Palmerston North College of Education. It is taken from the following whakataukī, he pukenga wai he nohonga tangata, he nohonga tangata he pukenga kōrero, when waters converge and pool, people come together; when people gather, conversation flows. He Pukenga Kōrero is a reference to the sharing of knowledge and visions for positive Māori advancement and development. The notion of knowledge sharing is continued in the cover design that depicts flowing water or a stream representing the flow of knowledge.
The first edition was published in kōanga (Spring) in 1995.