University of Waikato

The internship focused on developing an openHAB plugin that understood commands in te reo Māori for smart home systems. Supervised by Associate Professor Te Taka Keegan and others at the University of Waikato, the project enhanced the intern’s skills in software development and smart technology. The open-source plugin contributed to creating technology supporting te reo Māori revitalisation and its future use.

Spanning from Maungatautari to the Waikato River, this project centres the identity, resilience, and knowledge of Ngaati Koroki Kahukura. Through research grounded in whakapapa, reo, tikanga and mātauranga, we illuminate the vital role our iwi has played in shaping wellbeing, cultural revitalisation, and sustainable relationships within our rohe and beyond.

Revitalising kai piro – reconnecting traditional Māori food practices with community health, cultural identity, and future innovation.

This research explored how mahinga toi—through process, theory, and creative output—supported whānau, hapū, and iwi oranga and mana motuhake. Grounded in Te Whānau a Apanui, it developed a tukunga iho methodology that extended pūrākau into creative practice, recognising toi as both healer and knowledge system.

What does Māori women’s leadership in governance look like when told through their own voices? This project centres wāhine rangatira experiences and mentorship to develop a mana wāhine-led model of leadership and governance—from wāhine, for wāhine.

This internship analysed how race and racism are framed in New Zealand’s social and traditional media around key issues like constitutional reform and Māori health.
Guided by a research team, the intern conducted manual content analysis to uncover overt and subtle expressions of racism.