THESIS: Novel biotechnological controls for social wasp eradication: Exploring religious and spiritual Māori perceptions using a Q-Method and kaupapa Māori methodology

This thesis explores the perceptions religious and/or spiritual Māori have about five biotechnological controls proposed for the eradication of the Vespula germanica (German) and Vespula vulgaris (common) wasp-species in Aotearoa New Zealand. As part of the National Science Challenge – BioHeritage project, scientists are currently conducting research into the wasp biotechnological controls (WBC), which include: gene drives, RNA interference (RNAi), Trojan female, Trojan mite, and an artificial pheromone. The two primary objectives of this research are, firstly, using Likert scale ranking to determine which, if any, of the WBC religious/spiritual Māori would position as a feasible method of wasp control; and secondly, using Q-method to seek out the shared and divergent social, cultural, spiritual, and religious contextual views the participants have about WBC more generally. Research was conducted among 16 participants using a ‘quali-quantological’ mixed-methods approach, comprising a Māori-centred research practice using both Likert scale and Q Method ranking activities. Likert findings position the pheromone lure is the most favoured WBC and contrastingly, RNAi is the least favoured. Additionally, Q Method factor analysis distinguished three ‘factors’ – which describe the distinct views held by participant sub-groups – which are: 1) those who view the use of WBC as plausible, 2) those who see them as problematic, and 3) those who consider them implausible.