A former shepherd and farm manager, Dr Marion Johnson combines academic science and research with practical and traditional farm knowledge. Now a Senior Scientist at The Future Farming Centre, Lincoln. Dr Johnson holds degrees in Agricultural Science, Environmental Biology and Veterinary Parasitology.

Dr Kepa Morgan's (BE, MBA, PhD, CPEng, FIPENZ ) bi-cultural background is rooted in his cultural identity as Ngāti Pikiao of Te Arawa. During his engineering career Kepa has strengthened his understanding of Pikiaoanga while also striving for excellence both professionally and academically. As an indirect result of this combination of identity, interests and expertise, Kepa has found himself at the juncture between Māori aspirations and the engineering profession on many occasions.

Dr Hēmi Whaanga is a research officer in Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao (The School of Māori and Pacific Development) at the University of Waikato. Hēmi has been a project leader, writer and researcher in a range of linguistic, indigenous Māori knowledge and curriculum projects. He is the principal investigator on the NPM project The ethics, processes and procedures associated with the digitisation of the Pei Jones collection.

Shaun Ogilvie has a PhD in Ecology from the University of Canterbury and is the Director of Eco Research Associates Ltd, a private environmental research company.  He is also the Māori Business Development Consultant for the Cawthron Institute in Nelson, and a contractor to other organisations, including Lincoln University and The Environmental Protection Authority.
Shaun is the principal investigator on several Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga research projects:

Tom Roa is a senior lecturer at Waikato University. He is the principal investigator on the project Exploring a Māori classificatory system of flora and fauna within Tainui waka. His research interests are translation and interpretation of Māori-English, Kīngitanga, Waikato-Maniapoto oral and written history and traditions. He is the Chair of Te Arataura, Waikato Tainui's Executive.

Dr. Jason Turuwhenua is a Research Fellow who works between The University of Auckland’s Auckland Bioengineering Institute and the Department of Optometry and Vision Science. He is the principal investigator on the project Whatukura: A bioengineered model of the human eye. Jason is interested in how engineering methods might be applied to problems in vision. At present he is working on developing 'the virtual eye', a physics-based system for investigating eye disease.

Dr Daniel (Dan) Hikuroa is an Earth Systems Scientists who integrates mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and science to realise the dreams and aspirations of the communities he works with. He is an established world expert on integrating indigenous knowledge and science and has undertaken many projects including co-writing the 2014 State of the Hauraki Gulf Environment Report, geothermal developments, co-writing iwi environmental management plans, hazard and vulnerability assessments and industrial waste rehabilitation.

Professor Rawinia Higgins was appointed Te Tumu Ahurei (Māori) / Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) of Victoria University of Wellington in 2016.  She was previously Victoria’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori Research and Head of School for Te Kawa a Māui / School of Māori Studies and went to Victoria as a senior lecturer in 2009 after holding academic positions at the University of Otago for 12 years. Her research expertise is Māori language revitalisation and, more specifically, language planning and policy.

Professor Poia Rewi is currently Chief Executive of Te Mātāwai. He was peviously Dean of Te Tumu (School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies), the University of Otago. His main areas of research and teaching, and community engagement involve the Māori language, Māori culture, education and performing arts. He is Co-Principal Investigator on the three-year Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Pae Tawhiti initiative on Te Reo Māori.

Cindy Kiro is the Director of The Starpath Project, at the University of Auckland and was previously Head of School Te Kura Māori at Victoria University and Children’s Commissioner. Her areas of research expertise are Public Health, Māori Health, Children and Young People Policy, and Māori Development. She is a lead author on “Trends in Wellbeing for Māori households/families, 1981–2006".