Cathy Bolinga, Auckland University

“My research looked at the Melanesian Ways of gifting and reciprocity and how this view is translated into corporate philanthropic giving. Gift-giving is part of the Melanesian Way. This research aimed to understand how Melanesian gifting affects how people see development gifting by alternative development actors, especially corporate philanthropic organizations in Papua New Guinea (PNG), looking at the case of Digicel Foundation. Digicel Foundation is a corporate, non-profit organisation set up by the telecommunication company Digicel Ltd.

I used primary and secondary data sources, and the analysis and discussions were guided by assemblage framework. As an indigenous PNG Melanesian person, my approach to data collection was using the Melanesian Tok Stori approach and in doing so, I have applied a critical lens specific to PNG, by contextualising the terminology to use “Yumi Tok Stori”. This piece of work is currently under review for a special edition publication as I write this. I hope my Yumi Tok Stori approach will contribute to the continued discussions on indigenising Pacific research methodologies and especially Melanesian research approaches.

I initially planned to undertake in-person fieldwork in my home country of PNG. However, the emergence of the global covid-19 pandemic has changed the original plan and following the University of Auckland requirements meant I could not travel to PNG for fieldwork. I have adjusted my research approach and collected data in New Zealand (NZ) with PNG students and diaspora communities and decided to use online and remote approaches for key participants in PNG. The PNG meeting was organized by engaging a research coordinator on the ground. I am grateful for the research grant from the New Zealand Postgraduate Development research award, which immensely helped to engage support in PNG and within NZ for data collection. I am a self-funded student, and without the support of the New Zealand Postgraduate Development research award, my research data collection would have been very challenging financially. I am grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and DevNet for the much-needed financial support through this award.”