Matt works on indigenous socio-economic development and environmental sustainability initiatives and projects with a focus on applied outcomes through theoretical synthesis. He has a particular interest in how philosophical insights from ontology and epistemology can be used in practical ways to aid indigenous development.

• Indigenous and modernist ontology and epistemology
• Institutional economics
• Postcolonial psychology
• Settler colonisation
• Sustainable development

Sacha brings a serial entrepreneur’s approach to working with and for Iwi Māori. From instigating United Nations proceedings to architecting a Māori social enterprise fund and leading commercial negotiations, she is known for solution-building that meets Iwi Māori aspirations.
Before coming to UC, Sacha was the director of a boutique consultancy working with Iwi Māori in strategy development, kaupapa Māori asset management and innovation and the General Manager Strategy and influence with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, responsible for government relations on behalf of the Iwi.

Sonja’s research interest’s focus on the importance of culturally responsive, evidence based approaches in education, psychology, counselling, health and human development in order to enhance the social, cultural, educational and health outcomes that are achieved by Māori.

John is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Canterbury’s Ngai Tahu Research Centre. He is a specialist in leading and developing multi-disciplinary research and development programmes focused on addressing interrelated social, economic, and environmental problems.

His research explores the way in which Indigenous and Western cultures shape identity, sense of place, and approaches to social and economic development.