From about the mid-1980s, Maria was part of a group of non-indigenous people advocating for and educating about the Treaty of Waitangi and the responsibilities non-indigenous people must take up in relation to historic and contemporary colonization. Her current focus is on the emerging relationships being forged between States and/or Corporates and indigenous leaders in the various attempts to govern life - in the form of water/land/people and so forth.As a newish grandmother the pertinence of the wisdom of elders resonate - and call her to attention.