University of Waikato

What does Māori women’s leadership in governance look like when told through their own voices? This project centres wāhine rangatira experiences and mentorship to develop a mana wāhine-led model of leadership and governance—from wāhine, for wāhine.

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.

He oranga whānau: mahi ngātahi: Whānau livelihoods within the context of work and Māori economies of wellbeing. These groundbreaking works celebrate Māori futures rooted in kaupapa Māori values while fostering pathways for responsible relationships, meaningful lives, and flourishing Indigenous wellbeing economies. By emphasising the central role of whānau, these publications provide actionable insights and inspiration for transformative change in economic and cultural systems.

This internship created a 3D-printed Tekoteko trophy using a biodegradable harakeke filament to honor the memory of Dr Paora Mato.
The project blends traditional Māori carving with contemporary art, sparking conversations about tikanga and cultural practice.

Building on the 2013 project Ringihia i te kete – the language of the stars, this research developed a Māori astronomy database to preserve and expand mātauranga Māori about the stars. It aimed to strengthen the foundation for future Māori-led research by exploring how astronomical knowledge was embedded in language and cultural landscapes across Aotearoa.

Intern: Kelly M. Klink

Supervisor: Dr Nēpia Mahuika

University of Waikato