Full project

This research identified native rongoā plants that improve animal health and pasture resilience on farms. The project explored integrating these species into pastures to support biodiversity, reduce erosion, and enhance livestock wellbeing amid climate change. A theoretical pasture mix was developed with farmers and researchers to promote sustainable, diverse farming systems based on Te Rongoā principles.

Te Reo Māori represents an amazing opportunity to New Zealand for its potential to enrich society and culture and transform the experience and consciousness of those who are exposed to and use the language. The Māori language is an official language of New Zealand and is indigenous to our country. It is part of our country’s national character and identity.

He Mangōpare Amohia: Strategies for Māori Economic Development

Critical success factors for Māori economic development have been identified in a just released report on the three-year Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) research programme – Te Tupunga Māori Economic Development.

This significant research programme was led by Distinguished Professor Graham Hingangaroa Smith of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, who partnered with four participating iwi - Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāpuhi and brought their values, insights and aspirations to the project.

Their vision was to identify ways of transforming Māori/iwi economic development and find models that would appropriately reflect the economic interests of Māori, as well as their social and cultural development aspirations.

Wānanga are iwi located and managed events whose purpose is to share knowledge, create knowledge and to foster community identity, cohesion and wellbeing. Wānanga are conducted regularly by every iwi community in the country and are highly valued by those communities. Wānanga are critical events in the development of iwi/Māori communities and are perhaps only eclipsed by tangihanga as the pre-eminent event of our communities.

This research project looks at what the basic conditions are that would need to be in place in order for whanau/hapu and iwi communities to be ready to engage with Extractive Industry (EI); enter joint ventures with EI; or undertake their own EI projects? It will also investigate what the extractive industries perceptions are of international indigenous rights and business and human rights, as well as how recent developments in international law relating to indigenous rights and corporate accountability could promote Māori economic development through EI?

Despite the proliferation of equity and diversity plans and policies that have been established in universities across New Zealand over the past 25 years, Māori academic staff make up only a very small proportion of the nation’s academic workforce (6%) and the proportion of Pacific academic staff is even smaller (2%).