Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Dr James Ataria was a Deputy Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga for a fixed term 2016 to 2018. He is Senior Lecturer at Lincoln University and an ecotoxicologist at the Cawthron Institute, Nelson and is also an associate trustee of the Tuaropaki Trust and a member of Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao (Māori Advisory Committee to the board of the Environmental Protection Authority).

His research interests are in the development and application of ecotoxicological tools for the assessment of the biological effects and impacts of legacy and new emerging contaminants on culturally significant species and sites (especially freshwater) in New Zealand. He conducts his research within multi-disciplinary/multi-organisational programmes that are firmly embedded in Māori culture and process but with strong linkages to end-user organisations.

This approach interfaces between science and mātauranga Māori (traditional and contemporary Māori knowledge) and explores mechanisms that promote mutual understanding and equality of uptake in policy and decision making with respect to environmental resource management.

He led the NPM projects He moemoeā mō Ahuriri: A vision plan and health assessment for the Ahuriri Estuary, Ko te huarahi ki mua: Roads for change and He pūau awa – he ūngututanga mātauranga

Hana (Ngäpuhi, Te Roroa, Te Ätihaunui a Päpärangi, Ngäti Tüwharetoa) (she/her) is doing a PhD in Mäori health, with supervision from Donna (Käi Tahu, Käti Mämoe) (she/her) and Papaarangi (Te Rarawa) (she/her)

Adreanna is a Senior Lecturer in Te Kura Māori in the Faculty of Education. Her research interests include youth, education, and health as well as Māori development with a specific interest in Indigenous – ethnic minority youth and how existent issues within the community influence life experience and the articulation of that experience.

Historically her research is conducted through a sociological consideration of social injustice issues and deploys qualitative and critical research methodologies which include the Indigenous epistemology Kaupapa Māori. She is grounded in her community Te Mahia where she grew up on the whānau farm and like many other Indigenous scholars she supports her community by acting as an advocate for our Indigenous rights and liaising between her people and various institutions, leading and participating in research and writing projects and mentoring the younger generation.

Rawiri is a graduate of Massey University and Co-Director of Te Atawhai o te Ao. He was previously Project Manager for MANU AO with the responsibility of implementing key projects, such as the Leadership Course and Academic Forums. 

Rawiri has expertise in Project management; Māori event management; Māori business and organisations; and Māori oral history. He has tribal affiliations to Te Āti Haunui-ā-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu me Ngāi Tūhoe.

Melanie is an Indigenous environmental sociologist, and the Māori Research Manager – Kaiārahi for the Bio-Protection Research Centre (a Centre of Research Excellence) based at Lincoln University.

She is also the Māori Manager for New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, a founding member of Te Tira Whakamātaki; the Māori Biosecurity Network and a project leader and researcher in a number of National Science Challenge, Tertiary Education Commission and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment programmes including ‘Mātauranga Māori characterisation of NZ’s biodiversity,’ ‘Protecting NZ’s primary sector from plant pests: a toolkit for the urban battlefield,’ and ‘Protecting New Zealand from extreme fire.’

Since 2011 Melanie has been funded through various research institutes and government agencies to examine disaster risk reduction (DRR) and the effects of the Canterbury earthquakes on Māori communities, work that she believes links closely to the biosecurity sector. Melanie worked for Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu and its education subsidiary Te Tapuae o Rehua from 2001-2008.

Meegan teaches courses on higher education learning and teaching and hosts teaching orientations and events. Most of her teaching is to lecturers and tutors whilst she also contributes to the programme offered by Te Kawa a Māui, the School of Māori Studies, such as their introductory course about Māori society and culture and their postgraduate course about Māori research methodologies.

Her research interests lie in Māori academic development, Māori pedagogies, Māori student achievement and retention in higher education.

Hauiti is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at Te Tumu - University of Otago and specialises in collecting information about waahi tapu, waahi tipuna (sacred|cultural/heritage|ancestral sites), oral narratives (moteatea - traditional songs/chants, korereo purakau - stories) and whakapapa (genealogies) embedded in ancestral landscapes and uses modern GIS mapping technology to enhance this process.

Dr Hirini Moko Mead is a prominent Māori writer and commentator. Author of over 70 books, papers and articles, he was Foundation Professor of Māori Studies at Victoria University and was closely involved in establishing the Māori university Te Whare Wānangā o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne.

A scholar of rare expertise in Māori language and culture, Hirini was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 for his services to Māori and to education.

Garth is a senior environmental scientist based in Palmerston North and has worked for Landcare Research since 1992. His career spans over 28 years in resource management, land resource assessment, national environmental databases, GIS applications, and indigenous research. Garth pioneered much of the Māori led research in Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research Ltd., working on a wide range projects with Māori organisations and regional councils throughout New Zealand, particularly in the areas of land use planning, ecosystem health, bio-physical and cultural indicators, restoring indigenous landscapes, climate change, sustainable iwi/hapu resource development, building Māori research capability, collaborative learning, and indigenous Māori knowledge and values.

Major achievements and publications reflect an in-depth relationship and extensive networking during the last 29 years, work in at least 40 Māori research projects, and a large number of consultancies/working relationships/supply of information to staff in: iwi and hapu organisations; central and local government; non government organisations.