Doctoral Thesis

Koroumatai Kody Pewhairangi (Ngati Ira, Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngati Porou), Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi

The legacy of oral compositions by Tuini Ngawai and Ngoi Pewhairangi - the relational values of whanaungatanga informinga self-determining model of hapu development in action.

Rory M.S. Clifford (Kai Tahu, Kāti Māmoe), University of Canterbury

The aim is to publish a research article on the findings of my research into the effects of Stress on Decision Making, Communication and Situational Awareness, applied to Air Attack Supervision Training in Aerial Firefighting. This will target the Sage journal of Simulation and Gaming, https://journals.sagepub.com/home/sag which is indexed by Scopus (CiteScore 1.570).

Bonnie Maihi (Waikato-Tainui), University of Waikato

This project explores education and work pathways for Maaori Rangatahi/youth growing up in Aotearoa gang spaces.

The research aims to create awareness of pathways for Maaori children growing up in Aotearoa gang spaces and contribute to the development of Maaori whaanau in Aotearoa gang spaces by providing space for the silenced Maaori gang member

The majority of collaboration at this point is to be with whaanau in the gang spaces, alongside those showing leadership with our whaanau in these spaces. Other options may include - marae, hapuu and iwi.

The research contributes to a space which many Maaori whaanau occupy - providing a platform Tino Rangatiratanga / Self-determination Whaanau development - whaanau encouragement to find own solutions to nuturing ragatahi in these spaces onto school & work pathways.

Rev Wayne Te Kaawa (Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Awa, Yūhoe), University of Otago

The aim and objective of this project is to publicise what a Christological Creed or Faith Statement would consist of using Māori whakaaro rather than a western Christian hermeneutical framework. The expected outcome of this work is to stimulate discussion in the Māori ecumenical Christian community concerning an authentic Christological Creed that is based on mātauranga Māori whakaaro. 

Jessica Gerbic (Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Pikiao), The University of Auckland

Māori mothers are a taonga (treasure precious) for Māori society in the role they play for Whānau, hapū and iwi. The age when wāhine have tamariki has never been a barrier within Māori culture. Yet the process of colonisation has significantly impacted the status of young Māori wāhine through targeting, isolating and misrepresenting their lived realities in their journey into and through motherhood. This disconnect has been amplified through western research, government policies and media representation.

Kirsty Dunn (Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa), University of Canterbury

My PhD thesis, tentatively titled “‘Into the Dark, We Are Moths’” Centering Whakapapa, Representing Animals in Māori Writing in English” is an exploration of the ways in which human-animal relationships are represented and reimagined in contemporary Māori writing in English.  I aim to both describe a Kaupapa Māori framework for reading Māori literature, and demonstrate its efficacy and potential by analysing a selection of contemporary works.