Create introduction.md

adding intro page

Signed-off-by: Claire Rye <claire.rye@auckland.ac.nz>

Author: clairerye

docs/general_information/introduction.md

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+---
+tags: [ introduction ]
+title: Itroduction
+description: ""
+---
+
+# Aotearoa Genomic Data Repository: general information for users
+
+The Aotearoa Genomic Data Repository (AGDR) provides secure within-nation storage,
+management and sharing of non-human genomic data generated from samples originating in
+Aotearoa New Zealand. These biological and environmental samples, and their respective
+data, are of significant importance to Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa.
+
+Due to the importance of this data to Māori, the repository has been developed to follow the
+principles of Māori Data Sovereignty. As such, datasets within the AGDR are overseen by
+tribal custodians, generally referred to as kaitiaki, who exercise their responsibilities as
+guardians over biological entities that are considered as taonga (precious or treasured).
+
+While the repository is designed to facilitate the sharing of data — making it findable by
+researchers and interoperable with data held in other genomic repositories — the decision-
+making process regarding who can access the data is entirely in the hands of kaitiaki who
+maintain kaitiakitanga (guardianship) over each dataset.
+
+Note that the data contained in this repository are stored on servers that are physically
+located within New Zealand and are thus safeguarded by the rights and obligations within
+New Zealand’s founding Treaty agreement, Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
+
+For researchers who are interested in either submitting genomic data to the repository, or
+utilising data that is held within it, please take note of the following points:
+
+**1. This is not an Open Access data repository: genomics information from taonga
+species is itself considered taonga.** As such, inappropriate or unauthorised use or
+sharing of such data has the potential to violate Māori Data Sovereignty rights
+inherent in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Additionally, the inappropriate use of data diminishes
+the life essence (mauri) of the organisms being studied, and opposes the traditional
+rights and responsibilities for data management maintained by the respective kaitiaki.
+To protect these rights and responsibilities, most data sets can therefore only be
+downloaded after a “data access request” has been submitted and approved.
+
+**2. Data sets may only be used expressly as detailed in the approved data access
+request, and access is restricted to individuals who have been explicitly named in
+the approval.** Unless specifically noted, the transfer or subsequent re-upload of the
+data (or any derivatives thereof) to any other data repository or storage system is
+strictly prohibited. For some data sets, these restrictions will extend to research
+publications – these may require additional approval procedures prior to manuscript
+submission if data or information from the repository is to be included.
+
+**3. It is expected that genomic data submitted to the repository includes information
+about Māori consultation and kaitiakitanga relating to the samples from which the
+data have been generated.** This will include kaitiaki contact information for the
+relevant iwi or hapū and/or their delegated representatives. Kaitiaki will be contacted as part of the data submission process to confirm that contributing researchers have
+permission to upload data to the repository. Kaitiaki will also be contacted as part of
+the “data access request” process and will be involved in determining whether or not
+an application can be approved, and if so, what the requested data may be used for.