Projects

Author: Ani Kainamu, Supervisor: Dr Dan Hikuroa. This project fulfils part of the Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga summer studentship project that looks at the elements of ecological and Mauri restoration at Ōkahu Bay.

Metabolic health issues such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity are increasingly prevalent in our community, in keeping with worldwide trends. There is now a considerable amount of evidence that events during pregnancy and early childhood influence the risk of metabolic disease in later life by affecting glucose and fat metabolism and possibly appetite regulation.

Even after 30 years of Māori language revitalisation movements, the Māori language continues to be in a perilous state. Despite these efforts there is no one method that can stem the decline as societal factors still impact adversely on language development.

There are multiple Government funded initiatives aimed at addressing Māori language decline, including increasing the amount of Māori Language spoken, maintenance and quality. Te Puni Kokiri (2006 Health of the Māori Language Report) touched on the attitudes of wider New Zealand society towards the Māori language as unengaging and unlikely to change in the immediate future (p.7).

Led by Distinguished Professor Graham Smith, this iwi-partnered research programme explored Māori-led economic development grounded in mātauranga Māori. Working with Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāpuhi, the project developed a framework to support intergenerational wellbeing and guide future policy and practice.

Led by Dr Rawinia Higgins and Associate Professor Poia Rewi, this research investigates how Te Reo Māori supports economic development, cultural identity, and social cohesion. It focuses on increasing language participation and fluency, while deepening understanding of the language’s value across diverse contexts to strengthen revitalisation efforts and inform future language strategies.