Doctoral Projects

Michael Taiapa (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi), Waikato University

Since the 1950s, the advancements in second language acquisition and grammar theories in English language studies has had a profound impact on its own description that has made it less syntactically-driven and more communicatively-oriented. This has the potential to influence language description moving it from a purely structurally-focused orientation to a more semantically-focused one that is more suited to the pedagogic context.

Nevertheless, in the case of the Māori language, its description continues to be dominated by structural linguistics that was prevalent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, making no concessions to the possibility of a semantic analysis and this, in turn, is reflected in grammar books and textbooks on te reo.

Ashlea Gillon (Ngāti Awa, Ngāpuhi), The University of Auckland 

Te Piere Warahi (Ng>āti Maniapoto), The University of Auckland

My thesis addresses the question: What is the value of care to the carers? To achieve this objective, I interviewed thirteen participants from the Whangarei area, Auckland city and Hamilton city. 

I focus specifically on the care experience. Using a 'hindsight and humour' lens, I reveal the positive expressions to the human face of care and love to balance the daily 24 hours 7 days a week mechanical grind of care which is the dominant voice in literature.

Coined by a carer, 'the great paydays of caring' captures the essence of reciprocal love between the carer and their whānau. A phrase by another carer became a key theme – care means love. 

Deborah Heke (Nga Puhi, Te Arawa), Auckland University of Technology

Tūpuna Māori were a strong and active people whose relationship with their natural environment was fundamental to their ability to adapt and flourish in challenging environments.  It is the intent of this research to present a mana-enhancing narrative giving voice to physically active wāhine Māori, (re)presenting their connection to and activation of mana inherited from ancestors. The aim is to explore the whakapapa of physical activity among a group of self-declared physically active Māori women. 

By identifying characteristics that relate to their ability to maintain physical activity, this study will ultimately weave those findings into pūrākau of atua [wāhine] – feminine representations within nature. Whakapapa provides this research with both method and methodology, while an overarching lens of Mana Wahine prioritises the important voices at the intersection of being Māori and female. Using a uniquely styled interview process that allows a platform for sharing through physical activity, this research acknowledges and utilises the diverse ways to communicate and transmit knowledge.

Miriama Cribb (Whanganui, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tama), Massey University

Challenges have been made to businesses to reimagine a different way of doing things. This requires a shift in paradigm, one that includes decolonial conversations that challenge assumptions of the dominant paradigm.

One way of shifting paradigms, involves pushing and pulling organisations to use indigenous metaphors (Dell et al., 2020). An example of this is the granting of legal personhood to the Whanganui River which seeks to take a holistic approach to ensure the Whanganui River catchment is viewed and managed, not in isolation, but as an interconnected ecosystem.

Jefferson Dew (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), University of Otago

Peaks in electricity demand cause substantial issues for electricity systems’ infrastructure requirements. Demand-side management provides opportunities to reduce these peaks and create a more sustainable and affordable electricity supply. Dairy farming, being the third largest electricity use sector in Aotearoa has a role to play in enabling this transition, but is so far not meaningfully represented in the efforts of electricity sector organisations to alter electricity demand.

By working with highly industrialised dairy farms owned and operated by iwi organisations I aim to demonstrate not only the technical potential that these (and other) farms have to reduce electricity demand peaks, but also overcome barriers to change that the farmers face in adopting new technology and practices.