About this research
Project supervisor: Heni Unwin, Māori Researcher for Marine Technologies, Cawthron Institute
Raumati intern: Toiroa Whaanga-Davies (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Rehua, Ngāti Wai)
Institution: Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou
Project Summary: Te Pītau Whakarei Karahipi is a scholarship offered in partnership by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) and Cawthron Institute. The Karahipi will contribute to the generation of a Puna Mātauranga, or corpus knowledge base of Mātauranga Māori research, and learning resources that can be dispersed to the wider Cawthron platforms, research leaders, and technical teams.
The internship project aided in the creation of learning and research resources with customised Mātauranga Māori content specific to the Shellfish Aquaculture, Seafood Safety, Coastal and Freshwater programmes. Based at Cawthron Institute, the intern was supervised by Heni Unwin, Māori Researcher for Marine Technologies, Cawthron Institute.
Project output: Whaanga Davies 2023 Te Pītau Whakarei Karahipi Report
Intern Reflections:
There are a number of key learnings provided through this experience as an Intern. Firstly, I was able to gain a better understanding of the science sector and how it operates especially in terms of things not often dealt with at university such as acquiring funding. I have also been able to gain a better understanding in regards to how independent science organizations fit within NZ’s goals. Finally, this internship has provided me with new contacts within the sector and exposed me to a Māori team going above and beyond within a sector that has not always had our peoples values as a priority. Toiroa Whaanga-Davies
Bridging marine science and Mātauranga Māori, this internship helped develop learning resources for Cawthron Institute’s aquaculture and freshwater programmes—strengthening research through Indigenous knowledge.
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