Sustainable Resource Use - Mātauranga Māori Research Programme

Sustainable Resource Use

Crosscutting the three other Research Programmes sits our Mātauranga Māori Research Programme. This programme provides a platform for the other research programmes and intersects with the theme of sustainability. We will explore old and new knowledge to grow innovative approaches and techniques based on Mātauranga Māori.

We will:

a.       Use mātauranga Māori science for environmental remediation
b.       Develop materials within the context of Māori customary tribal knowledge
c.       Investigate the use of composite materials for sustainable building papakāinga

Exploring old and new knowledge to grow innovative approaches and techniques based on Mātauranga Māori.

MM Project 1: Environmental remediation utilising Mātauranga Māori science

Project Leader:

Pauline Harris, from Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Rakaipaaka and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa

Environmental sustainability is fundamentally part of the Māori world view. The Vision Mātauranga objectives of each Research Programme will be developed and implemented with the relevant collaborators. Hui and wānanga will be held to discuss issues of sustainability and related technologies, in order to create a collaborative effort involving Māori experts, communities, iwi and Institute researchers. Research will be conducted to investigate what are the key environmental issues facing Māori communities today and how can modern and traditional understanding help heal and remediate these issues. We will also explore ethical and spiritual implications of emerging technologies. From this, Educational opportunities will also emerge from this research that will feed into the design and development of a new Institute outreach programme, with existing partnerships such as Whakarewarewa Village in Rotorua.

MM Project 2: Materials within the context of Māori customary tribal knowledge

Project Leader:

Derek Kawiti

Developing an emerging intersection between materials research and Mātauranga tuku iho, we will conduct materials investigations and connective ‘tooling’ to interface between people, process and technologies. Multi scaled architectural/technological outputs/high performance materials will be delivered with computational/parametric design and hybrid additive manufacturing (3D printing).

This project cuts across to Reconfigurable Systems Project 3 - Harness Māori customary knowledge to produce new high value materials from nature.

MM Project 3: Composite materials and sustainable Papakāinga

Project Leader:

Diane Bradshaw, from the Ngāti Te Wehi, Ngāti Mahuta hapū of Waikato Tainui, Te Uri o Hau ki Te Rarawa iwi

This project investigates the use of composite materials drawn from geological ingredients including silica ash, as the next generation of sustainable materials for building papakāinga. This project supports housing resilience, using materials found in the backyard. Solving Aotearoa’s housing issues.

PhD Scholarships available in Reconfigurable Systems

See here for the full list of PhD Scholarships available in the Mātauranga Māori Research Programme funded by the MacDiarmid Institute and how to apply.