Pae Ora
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Explore the historical context of Lake Karapiro to support Māori holistic wellbeing
This internship explored Lake Karāpiro’s cultural narratives to support Māori holistic wellbeing and challenge colonial environmental views. Using indigenous frameworks, the project contributed to decolonising health approaches and enriched understanding of environment–wellbeing connections. -
Tūrou Hawaiki: Morning karakia and waiata as a culturally responsive pedagogy
This internship explored the wellbeing benefits of daily karakia and waiata at the University of Canterbury, highlighting their role in fostering cultural connection and belonging. Using a braided rivers methodology, the project captured staff and student experiences of these powerful tikanga Māori practices. -
Te Au Roa – Predator sound lure trial: Draw possums out of those difficult to reach places on Taranaki Mounga
This project trialled a bush-ready acoustic sound lure, co-developed with Auroa School students, to help draw out remaining possums from hard-to-reach areas of the Kaitake ranges. Supporting Taranaki Mounga Project and DOC’s pest eradication goals, this innovative tech aims to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and protect precious biodiversity. -
Ngāti Marutūahu
Kiri West (Ngāti Marutūahu), The University of Auckland The New Zealand government has indicated a willingness to consider the application of Māori data sovereignty (MDS) in the storage, management and governance of data-sets held by them. To what extent is there alignment between the principles of Māori data sovereignty (as communicated by Te Mana… -
Te Kai Ora a Kāi Tahu: Conceptualising Kāi Tahu kai sovereignty and Māori nutrition data sovereignty
This research explored how Kāi Tahu can strengthen control over kai systems, sources, and practices. By weaving together insights on Māori food and nutrition data sovereignty, it offers a foundation for future whānau- and hapori-led kai ora initiatives. -
Hauora: a Ngāti Kahungunu perspective
Sharron’s doctoral research is a strengths-based study called ‘Hauora: A Ngāti Kahungunu perspective’ and the research question is, “What is the relationship between kaupapa Māori community-led initiatives and Māori notions of hauora and how can this mātauranga-ā-iwi inform Te Ara Toiora, the Ngāti Kahungunu Wellbeing Strategy?” -
‘Taiahahā, taiahahā - ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au…’ Exploring the Mokoia Taiaha Wānanga in relation to cultural reclamation, resilience and affirmation
The whakatauakī - 'Ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au,' stands as a determining principle behind the legacy created by Mita Hikairo Mohi and his teachings of the discipline of mautaiaha. Many from across the motu have attended these wānanga held on Mokoia Island. The intention of Aramoana’s research is to explore this legacy and its impact on Māori Male well-being… -
Mana Tinana, Mana Mōmona, Mana Wāhine: Ngā Pūrākau o Ngā Tinana Body Sovereignty and Fat Māori Wāhine
How do fat Indigenous wāhine reclaim body sovereignty as a form of resistance? This research centred on the lived experiences of fat Māori wāhine, challenging colonial and biomedical narratives through the lens of mātauranga Māori. It reclaims tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake of the body, and reimagines access, wellbeing, and worth beyond systems of… -
Whanake te kura i Tawhitinui – Building resilience within Māori communities
This research explores how mātauranga Māori enriches natural hazard resilience in Aotearoa by integrating Indigenous knowledge with science. It highlights Māori-led solutions that strengthen cultural identity, wellbeing, and community response to disasters. The resulting publication will be accessible and visually engaging, showcasing collaborative research…Kairangahau · Researchers
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Kristie-Lee Thomas
Kristie-Lee Thomas
Tēnā koe! He uri au nō Ngāti Mutunga ō Wharekauri me Te Āti Awa.I'm passionate about bringing people and knowledge systems, particularly Mātauranga Māori and disaster risk science together in ways that best support whānau, hapū, iwi & local communities in planning and preparing for disaster events and climate change.I currently work part time for UC on a number of kaupapa Māori research projects, co-lead RNC Te Whanake Te Kura i Tawhiti Nui research programme and teach into the UC Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience programme whilst I study towards my doctorate. -
Professor Taiarahia Black
Professor Taiarahia Black
Taiarahia Black is a New Zealand academic known for advancing Māori language revitalisation and reclamation through scholarship, teaching, and cultural knowledge work. Rising to full professor at Massey University, he built a career that blends Māori language priorities with academic credibility and institutional service. His public engagements have also reflected an educator’s instinct: interpreting language and cultural values in ways that can be carried into everyday life. Across decades in higher education, he has come to represent a careful, language-centered approach to sustaining… -
Dr Darren Ngaru King
Dr Darren Ngaru King
Darren Ngaru King is an interdisciplinary research scientist with experience spanning the earth and human-systems sciences. His research focus is climate variability, tsunamis and impacts on Māori communities. He investigates factors that influence the risk, vulnerability and endurance of climate-sensitive sectors, systems and groups, using approaches grounded in applied geology, Māori oral history and Mātauranga Māori. Darren is also a member of the Kāhui Māori of the Deep South National Science Challenge. -
Dr Peter Meihana
Dr Peter Meihana
Peter is a Senior Lecturer in Māori History at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University, and a Trustee of Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau. His research interests include Māori history; tribal history; and colonisation. -
Israel Birch
Israel Birch
Israel Tangaroa Birch is known for his distinctive work with steel and lacquer. His highly polished, patterned surfaces interact with light to create shifting, luminous fields of colour and shadow that seem to ripple as the viewer moves—offering a deeply immersive experience.Birch’s practice involves grinding and carving directly into steel, embedding a physicality into each work that speaks to the process of making. This dynamic energy—of movement, sound, and intent—feels captured within the material itself, reflecting his constant exploration of the medium’s limits.Birch holds a Master of… -
Professor Regan Potangaroa
Professor Regan Potangaroa
Dr Regan Potangaroa is Professor at the School of Future Environments at AUT. He is recognised as a global expert in humanitarian engineering and Māori-centred resilience. With 45 years of experience spanning structural engineering, architecture, disaster response, and academia, Regan has been involved with over 200 humanitarian deployments in 22 countries and pioneered innovative assessment methods for traditional timber structures like wharenui. His recent work, featured in the short film Rising from the Earth; showcases how marae across Aotearoa are navigating seismic risk, climate change… -
Dr Ruakere Hond
Dr Ruakere Hond
Dr Ruakere Hond is a longstanding advocate of te reo Māori revitalisation and a key supporter of the Parihaka community. He was instrumental in working to achieve reconciliation between that community and the Crown, and he has held several leadership roles in Māori language organisations, including Te Reo o Taranaki, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and Te Ataarangi. He has served two terms as a member of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and is a past board member of Te Mātāwai, which leads the implementation of the Maihi Māori language strategy.In 2013, Dr Hond completed a doctorate in public… -
Lara Taylor
Lara Taylor
Lara Taylor's whakapapa is to Ngāti Tahu, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Pāhauwera, and Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku. She is passionate about Māori rights and interests, particularly related to Te Ao Tūroa. Her career has involved Māori planning and strategy – Auckland Council, Māori researcher at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, and advisory and governance roles for hapū and iwi. She is a Komiti Member on the national Māori planner’s forum Papa Pounamu, associated with the New Zealand Planning Institute. Lara has recently established her own business, E Oho! which specialises in Māori policy… -
Tonga Karena
Tonga Karena
No Ngāti Kahumate, no Ngāti Hinekura ahau. He kaiawhiawhi ki Parihaka, ā, he kaiwhakaūkaipō i te reo o Taranaki. Inā tata nei i noho hei kaimahi ki PKW – he rau whakaihoiho te tūranga. I tua atu i tērā, he kaiwhakahī waiata, he tauira tākuta, ka mutu, he pūkenga ki roto i nga whare wānanga hoki. Ko ia tērā ko te Pou Tikanga o Tuiora.As Pou Tikanga, Tonga Karena provides the cultural leadership and vision for our whole organisation. He ensures that the cultural resilience of Tui Ora kaimahi is the framework for our everyday activities and our engagement with our community.Tonga has had a…
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