This thesis contains chapters which are associated with each research objective. Chapters generally build on each other and follow the general process of the research as it was carried out.

Chapter 2 - A Cultural Statement: This chapter provides a comprehensive foundation for the thesis, connecting personal motivations, tribal priorities, and an institutional innovation process.

Chapter 3 - Setting the research priority and context: This chapter highlights the crucial role of engineers in addressing New Zealand's challenges and opportunities, while simultaneously meeting the needs and values of Māori communities. It explores government policies, tertiary institution initiatives, industry efforts, and tribal organisations that aim to leverage Māori knowledge and assets.

Chapter 4 – Current knowledge and practice to the engineering of buildings: This chapter discusses various methods for revising the design process and criteria to align with tribal performance objectives in the seismic design of light-framed timber buildings.

Chapter 5 – Methodology: The chapter outlines a comprehensive methodology for incorporating indigenous Māori values and tribal seismic performance objectives into New Zealand's building regulatory system. This chapter introduces the Māori Performance Assessment Procedure (MPAP) as an adaptation of the (FEMA-P58-1, 2018) framework.

Chapter 6 – Tribal Seismic Performance Objectives: This chapter provides essential clarifications of conducting tribal research within institutions and the challenges around representation. It then presents the results of interviews that were conducted to establish tribal performance objectives.

Chapter 7: Design and Modelling of a Timber-Framed Building for Tribal Seismic Performance Assessment - This chapter outlines the design process and detailed model for light-frame wood buildings using state-of-the-art modelling software, Timber3D.