Internship project

Exploring horticultural futures in Wairoa, this project identified saffron, feijoa, and gevuina as promising crops to protect whenua from erosion and support sustainable Māori land use.

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.

This internship explored concepts of cultural richness through a Māori lens, guided by whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and aroha. Blending personal narrative and research, the project examined how cultural richness and social capital can be meaningfully expressed and embedded within urban environments.

This internship used drone technology to capture aerial imagery of the Tapuwae block, exploring how cultural mapping and environmental monitoring can support Māori-led approaches to understanding and responding to landscape change.

Intern: Kelly M. Klink

Supervisor: Dr Nēpia Mahuika

University of Waikato

This summer internship project explores nga uri o matihiko –the Māori digital generation. Qualitative research and input from digital natives provides insight into the behaviours, thoughts and actions and how identity is informed by a digital culture.