PhD Candidate: Ashlea Gillon (Ngāti Awa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāiterangi)

Primary Supervisor(s): Professor Tracey McIntosh

How do fat Indigenous wāhine experience and enact body sovereignty (as resistance) within systems of oppression? AKA What does body sovereignty mean to you?

PhD Candidate: Kahurangi Rora Waititi (Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tahu)

Primary Supervisor(s): Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith

This research looks at how mahinga toi as process, theory and output contribute to whānau, hapū and iwi oranga and mana motuhake. This is explored through my iwi of Te Whanau a Apanui who have a strong history of tribal storytellers, that have led to our contemporary kaitoi and kaitito. One of the primary questions was how does mahinga toi contribute to oranga of whānau, hapū and iwi?

Kia ū ki tau kawai whakapapa, kia matau ai, ko wai koe, e anga atu koe ki hea – Take ahold of your ancestral stem, so that you might know, who you are, and what direction you're going in.
Can virtual reality technology promote engagement with the taiao and can we create research methods to assess the impact of virtual reality engagement with the taiao on rangatahi wellbeing?

What mātauranga exists that can support our flora for their continued existence as taonga and how can Māori build their response capability to biological threats on taonga plant species?

What is the current state of knowledge on wairua, pregnancy and birthing, what are the key initia-tives and opportunities for collaborative research pro-jects, and who are the key stakeholders in this area?

Pregnancy and birth are key times in the lives of mothers, babies and their whānau. Some whānau have the re-sources and life contexts that enable them to understand and experience pregnancy and birth using Māori concepts, frameworks and practices while many other Māori experience pregnancy and birth within a largely Western or mainstream biomedical system of processes and practices without recourse to Māori knowl-edge or support.

How do we collectivise what we have for greater gain? How can we best create sustainable new te reo me ngā tikanga narrative led research to refresh, renew and recover te reo me ngā tikanga knowledge narratives and scholarships and support reo speaking communities and scholars and what national and institutional strategies are required to truly enable te reo me ngā tikanga-led research?

This platform project is focused on collectivising te reo me ngā tikanga Māori researchers to support inspirational te reo writers for intergenerational empowerment, greater revitalisation, normalisation and practice within our research settings.

The research question for this platform project are:

The theory of value research platform is concerned with considering:

• How can the values that drive the Māori economy be understood and articulated within a theoretical context?
• How can the values that drive the Māori economy be utilised by Māori communities to enhance wellbeing?

The theory of value platform project seeks to build on research conducted by the Whai Rawa theme in the areas of Indigenous economics and entrepreneurship and Māori enterprise. Māori values research has indicated that they go beyond Māori business and entrepreneurship.

What digital platforms could support a collective approach to Te Tai Ao?
How could this be managed; practically and using what protocols?
What are the potential uses and benefits of these platforms locally, nationally and internationally?
What are the potential Te Tai Ao future needs of iwi/hapū that need to be addressed in the digital platform considerations?
What opportunities are there for Indigenous digital solution platform that can be developed and implemented in communities?

What current methods do Māori (particularly those on low incomes and/or living in conditions of poverty) use to manage money?

What financial products and services are likely to be effective for Māori and how might these be successfully implemented?

What support can Māori organisations (including iwi) and the government provide to increase whānau financial literacy and savings?

Poverty within Māori communities is perpetuated by low incomes, poor financial literacy and a lack of whānau role models who encourage saving. For change to occur, financial education, collaborative community efforts and radical behavioural shifts are required.