Internship project

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.

This project advanced seagrass restoration in Aotearoa by building on new evidence that Zostera muelleri produces viable seeds, enabling less invasive restoration methods. It supports large-scale recovery of these vital coastal ecosystems without harming existing seagrass meadows.

This internship examined how the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has influenced domestic law reforms, drawing lessons from Canada, Belize, and beyond. It explored strategies for Indigenous peoples and civil society to advance rights within national and international legal frameworks.

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.

This project investigated the linguistic features of te reo Māori in formal debates (tautohetohe) broadcast in the 1990s, supporting the development of Papa Reo—an Indigenous-led multilingual language research platform.

This internship supported the Whakarauora Project by researching traditional Whanganui pātaka practices to help revive customary fishing and storage methods. Working with Te Morehu Whenua, the project contributes to cultural education and the restoration of taonga species management.

This internship analysed how race and racism are framed in New Zealand’s social and traditional media around key issues like constitutional reform and Māori health. Guided by a research team, the intern conducted manual content analysis to uncover overt and subtle expressions of racism.

This project explored how the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi align—or conflict—with the management of public reserves, through a case study of Waikouaiti Recreation Reserve in the Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki rohe. Supervised by Dr Robin Quigg, the research involved historical analysis of land use, whakapapa, and pūrākau, contributing to the…

This project explored whānau-submitted narratives to understand the potential of whānau research in reclaiming knowledge, supporting healing, and navigating barriers. The intern analysed submissions and reflected on how whakapapa-based methodologies foster intergenerational connection, resilience, and insight.

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.

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.

This internship compiled a database of traditional Māori food preservation practices to better understand archaeological midden sites and mahinga kai history. Working with Otago’s SPAR team, the project links historical knowledge with contemporary preservation techniques across Aotearoa.