UC Research Profile - University of Canterbury

Mr Phillip John Borell

Contact

Department: Aotahi School of Māori and Indigenous Studies

Email: phillip.borell@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3695957

Office: Te Ao Marama 162

Languages: English, Maori (Te Reo)

About

Research / Creative works

Supervision

Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

Māori and Pasifika Sporting Participation
Contemporary Polynesian Masculinities
Māori and Indigenous Development
Sport and Society

Researcher Summary

Phil Borell has been researching and teaching in Aotahi: School of Māori and Indigenous Studies since 2008. Phil graduated his MA with Distinction in 2013. His thesis provides a thorough analysis of Māori contributions to the sport of rugby league between 1908 and 2012.

In 2016 he began work on his PhD thesis, titled 'PolySaturated: An Examination of Polynesian Experiences in Professional Rugby League'. He is due to complete this project early 2021. This doctoral thesis utilizes Māori and Pasifika research methods (Pūrākau and Talanoa) to give voice to the experiences of Polynesian (Māori and Pasifika) athletes in professional rugby league.

Phil's research has grown out of his time as a rugby league player, fan and now as a trainer in Canterbury's Premier Reserve rugby league competition.

Phil has also published written works examining Māori sporting practices; indigenous masculinity; the politics of sport in Aotearoa-New Zealand; and sport and education in Aotearoa-New Zealand. His current research, both within and outside of his PhD thesis, has a focus on critiquing and rewriting dated narratives of Polynesian masculinity and using sport as a platform for de-colonial practice.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Indigenous Studies: Indigenous Studies
Māori Knowledge and Development: Māori Development ; Māori Knowledge/Culture ; Te Reo Māori ; Treaty of Waitangi

Prizes and Awards

Early Career Research Award College of Arts ( 2015 )

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Chapters

Borell PJ. and Kahi HK. (2017) Sport, Leisure and Culture in Māori Society. In Spracklen K; Lashua B; Sharpe E; Swain S (Ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Leisure Theory: 127-141.Palgrave Macmillan. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56479-5_8.

Borell P. and Macfarlane A. (2016) Dual discourses of sport and education: An effectual blend for Māori development. In Light RL (Ed.), Children, young people and sport: Studies on experience and meaning: 185-199. Christchurch: Cambridge Scholars Press.

Borell P. (2015) Patriotic Games: Boundaries and Masculinity in New Zealand Sport. In Innes RA; Anderson K (Ed.), Indigenous Men and Masculinities: 165-180. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press.

Journal Articles

Bennett C., Matunga H., Steyl S., Borell P., Dionisio R. and Hāpuku A. (2021) Mana whenua engagement in Crown and Local Authority-initiated environmental planning processes: A critique based on the perspectives of Ngāi Tahu environmental kaitiaki. New Zealand Geographer 77(2): 63-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nzg.12304.

Borell PJ., Hall M., Adds P. and Ross M. (2017) Understanding the uncomfortable kōkako: the challenge of applying threshold concepts in Māori studies. SOTL in the South 1(1): 91-107.

Borell PJ. (2016) One step forward: Cultural politics in New Zealand sport. Political Science 68(2): 161-174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0032318716680387.

Theses / Dissertations

Borell PJ. (2012) He iti hoki te mokoroa: Māori Contributions to the Sport of Rugby League. Christchurch, New Zealand. University of Canterbury.

Reports

McMeeking S., Borell P., Williams M. and Mclean J. (2016) Transition Pathway for Māori Women Post Prison.Commissioned by Te Putahitanga.

McMeeking SM., Borell P., MacLean J. and Williams M. (2015) MÄori Women's Transition from Prison.Commissioned by Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu.

Conference Contributions - Other

Borell PJ. (2016) Pride of Place: The use of sport as a decolonial option. Kobe, Japan: Annual Asian Conference on the Social Sciences, 9 Jun 2016.

Borell P. (2015) Changing of the guard: A shift in power dynamics in the Australian National Rugby League. Kobe, Japan: 6th Annual Asian Conference on the Social Science, 11-14 Jun 2015.

Borell P. (2015) Politicized and polarised: The ‘dark’ side of New Zealand sport. Palmerston North, New Zealand: NZPSA (New Zealand Political Science Association) Conference, 30 Nov-2 Dec 2015.

Borell P. (2012) "Please give generously": The Emergence of Donor Culture in Rugby League. Norwich, CT, USA: Fourth Annual Meeting of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA), 4-6 Jun 2012.

Oral Presentations

Borell P. (2012) Coloniality and the politics of New Zealand Sport. University of Canterbury: Maori Post-graduate Research Symposium.

Borell P. (2012) Doner culture in international rugby league. University of Canterbury: Arts Master Class.

Other

Borell PJ. (2013) Celebrating the Rugby League World Cup. [News Article].

Borell PJ. (2013) Rugby league expert backs Williams to help Kiwis. [News Article].

Brooks K. and Borell P. (2012) Call for Second NRL Side: Opportunities for Maori in professional sport seen as too limited. Sunday News 14 Oct 2012 [Newspaper article].

Student Supervision

Displaying all items.

Current

Masters - Harris H: Kiorahi ki Waitaha: an investigation into how kiorahi may reinforce Maoritanga (2015)

Key Methodologies

Theories of De-Coloniality
Kaupapa Māori Research Methods and Theory