What a month it has been with NPM welcoming 661 delegates from across the globe to the International Indigenous Research Conference (IIRC) at Waipapa Taumata Rau. IIRC fostered a unified and community-driven kaupapa, creating an uplifting week and strong sense of togetherness. IIRC was more than just a return to an in-person gathering - it was a profound reunion of colleagues and friends to symbolise the power of solidarity, knowledge sharing and collective empowerment worldwide. Recordings of our keynotes are now on our website and can be seen here. https://www.maramatanga.ac.nz/replay-media
If you were one of the 661 who attended IIRC we would value your whakaaro on what you loved and what we might improve on for 2026. Comments can be submitted here.
Coinciding with IIRC24 was the historically significant Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti which many of our conference delegates took part in. Many in our network are now turning their attention to making a submission on the Treaty Principles Bill. Submissions on the Bill can be made by individuals and collectives and there are a number of helpful resources to refer to. We also recommend reading the primer on the Bill by NPM researcher and Tiriti expert Dr Carwyn Jones.
Toitū te Tiriti!
Meri Kirihimete e te whānau. Kia matareka anō hoki te tau hou!
Ngā Pou Matarua | Co-Directors
● Professor Tahu Kukutai
● Professor Linda Waimarie Nikora
Ētahi atu · Other e-pānui
IRC26 is just around the corner, and the excitement is building! Our NPM whānau and volunteers are in full manaakitanga mode, ready to welcome over 600 delegates to the beautiful campus of Waipapa Taumata Rau. Featuring a stellar lineup of Indigenous keynotes and a dynamic programme of 200+ presenters from Aotearoa and around the globe, IIRC26 is set to be an unforgettable celebration of Indigenous fabulousness.
We are also thrilled to announce the successful recipients of our 2026 Whakaaweawe Impact and Transformation Grants. These grants enable researchers at any of our 21 partner entities to drive meaningful outcomes, share knowledge, and foster connections that amplify research impact and transformation. You can read more about the projects in this e-pānui.
Adding to the celebration, our flagship journal AlterNative turns 21 this December. Be sure to check out the full story inside as we honour over two decades of advancing Indigenous scholarship.
Pou Matarua | Co-Director
- Professor Tahu Kukutai
- Professor Melinda Webber
Earlier this month, in partnership with the Royal Society Te Apārangi, we were proud to launch TAIKURA: Research at the Convergence of Knowledge Systems. This web-based repository profiles high-impact projects that show the power and potential of mātauranga Māori including:
- how a Māori-led initiative helped restore mussel beds in Ōhiwa Harbour to more than 45 million mussels;
- how collaborative community-led research, informed by whakapapa, led to a genetic test that has saved thousands of lives around the world’
- how large language models are being trained on authentic content and data, including te reo Māori, to protect Māori data sovereignty.
Our gratitude to the amazing Māori researchers who brought the project to life - Prof. Amanda Black, Prof. Karyn Paringatai, AProf. Donna Campbell, Prof. Kura Paul-Burke, Dr Kiri Reihana, Prof. Te Taka Keegan and Ramari Stewart - as well as writer Atakohu Middleton, artist Heremahina Eketone, and the team at Te Apārangi.
Pou Matarua | Co-Director
- Professor Tahu Kukutai
- Professor Melinda Webber
With Kōanga upon us, we can all approach the months ahead with renewed vigour and intent. NPM certainly has plenty of mahi to keep us busy, starting with our upcoming Wānanga Paetukutuku on September 23. Centred on the potential of Indigenous play, it promises valuable insights into how culturally grounded play can support tamariki.
Our team at Kanapu recently launched the incredible RSI&T navigation platform Kanapu Connect and we encourage all of our readers to sign up and start connecting! KC offers a fantastic snapshot of the vast network of RSIT organisations operating across the motu. It’s an essential tool whether you’re new to the sector, exploring new horizons, or just trying to figure out who’s who.
You may have also spotted our recent social media updates highlighting the IIRC26 keynotes. We are thrilled with the line-up of authoritative voices speaking at IIRC26 and know that participants will draw immense inspiration from their kōrero.
Finally, we want to draw attention to a feature in this issue, revisiting research done by Professor Maria Bargh and her team back in 2018. It’s a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that’s created when researchers work in partnership with communities to tackle and solve shared challenges. Such research captures the very heart of the mahi that we all strive to do.
Pou Matarua | Co-Director
- Professor Tahu Kukutai
- Professor Melinda Webber