Each month we feature one of our NPM lead researchers. This month our kōrero is with Dr Ani Kainamu. Ani is the Kaihautū Māori Research Impact Leader at Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI).
Ko wai tō ingoa, nō whea koe?
Ko Ani Kainamu ahau, he uri ahau nō Rāhiri, nō Kahukuraariki - ko Ngāpuhi, ko Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa ngā iwi. Nō Kōtirana anō hoki taku matua, ā, nui tana tautoko i Te Tiriti i a ia e ora ana.
E noho ana mātou ko aku tamariki i roto i a rāua, i Te Waka o Aoraki. He Kāi Tahu, he Ngāti Raukawa anō hoki aku tamariki.
I believe it is important to acknowledge my tūpuna, as well as the haukāinga of the takiwā we now call home. While my whānau are from Te Tai Tokerau, and my father immigrated to Tāmaki Makaurau from Glasgow, I have lived within Te Waka o Aoraki for over a decade. I am grateful to be supported by mentors and peers of Kāi Tahu, and to now be raising my tamariki close to their whenua tīpuna.
What are your areas of research?
I specialise in environmental research across māra kai and mahinga kai, from land to marine ecosystems. Given the essential framing of te ao Māori in my research, it recognises the health of people, the environment, and food systems. I draw on mātauranga Māori and science to understand environmental health, bioindicator species, such as mātaitai/shellfish, and contaminant pathways ki uta ki tai. The majority of my mahi is undertaken in partnership with hapū and iwi to support kaitiakitanga.
What excites you about your work?
There are many barriers to the full expression of kaitiakitanga, especially within the marine environment, so I am motivated to identify and co-develop approaches with amazing tangata tiaki and collaborations with colleagues - internally and externally - that bring our collective efforts towards sustainable futures aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Our NPM vision is flourishing Māori futures. What does that mean for you?
For me, flourishing Māori futures means supporting and resourcing Māori environmental-based research and hapū aspirations to create lasting impact. This is inherently connected to environmental well-being, where the health of people and ecosystems is interdependent. With few Māori, particularly senior Māori researchers, within the RSIT sector, NPM plays an important role in recognising and supporting this, helping to realise these connections in research practice and leadership.