Mr. Ben Matthews(Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Porou), Senior Policy Analyst in the Policy and Trade Branch of the Ministry for Primary Industries(MPI), Aotearoa New Zealand, recently was invited to deliver a special lecture at National Dong Hwa University(NDHU).

Entitled "Reclaiming Māori Food Sovereignty: Environment, Health, and Wellbeing as an Interconnected Whole," the lecture was co-organized by the Department of Ethnic Relations and Cultures as part of the course "Taiwan Indigenous Knowledge Systems," and by the Center for International Indigenous Affairs(CIIA). The event was graciously hosted by NDHU Vice President and Dean of the College of Indigenous Studies Prof. Chung-Shan SHIH, CIIA Director Prof. Bavaragh Dagalomai Jolan HSIEH, and Department Chair Dr. Yi-Tze LEE.

Mr. Matthews has served in multiple New Zealand government agencies for over seventeen years, with extensive experience in advancing iwi(tribal)partnerships, Māori economic development, and international collaboration. In addition to attending the "Technology Empowerment for Local Revitalization: International Conference on Indigenous Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development" hosted by the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, he also accepted an invitation from Prof. Bavaragh Dagalomai Jolan HSIEH to visit NDHU and share Māori perspectives on food sovereignty. His lecture illustrated how food sovereignty connects environmental ethics, cultural revitalization, and community wellbeing-offering a living example of Indigenous self-determination in practice.

At the beginning of his talk, Mr. Matthews expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims of the recent flooding in Guangfu Township, Hualien, and wished for the community's swift recovery. His gesture reflected the enduring friendship and mutual support between the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand and Taiwan.

Drawing from a Māori worldview, Mr. Matthews explained how communities integrate traditional knowledge with contemporary science to revitalize local food systems and develop sustainable economic models. This holistic approach strengthens cultural identity while embodying Indigenous sovereignty across land, food, and education. His insights offered Taiwan valuable international perspectives on advancing food sovereignty, social innovation, and cultural and educational autonomy.

The session concluded with lively discussion as students raised questions on topics ranging from environmental governance and cultural sustainability to transnational collaboration-demonstrating the younger generation's deep engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems and global Indigenous issues.

Prof. Bavaragh Dagalomai Jolan HSIEH remarked: "Aotearoa New Zealand's long-standing policy and development framework grounded in Māori self-determination provides an important reference for Taiwan's Indigenous governance. Through such cross-national academic and cultural exchanges, we hope to deepen the partnership between Taiwan and New Zealand and work together toward realizing the shared vision of Indigenous sovereignty and sustainable development."

Vice President Prof. Chung-Shan SHIIH added that NDHU will continue to strengthen educational and research collaborations with Aotearoa New Zealand and other Pacific nations, broadening international opportunities for Taiwan's Indigenous students. By nurturing a new generation of Indigenous leaders grounded in culture and equipped with a global outlook, NDHU is committed to fostering Indigenous education, cultural diversity, and a shared sustainable future.