About
Our name literally means a source that weaves together those things that are most precious to us, and can be broadly translated as the ‘Precious Woven Centre’ (Aperahama, 2022).
Our work focuses on providing research and supporting development that enhances who we are and how we want to live as Māori – protecting and nurturing our taonga (treasures) in order to support intergenerational well-being for Aotearoa. Our work seeks to be transformative for our communities, who we believe, will always lead the most meaningful change.
The Pūrangakura logo depicts woven strands that represents our collective and collaborative approach as a multi-discplinary team. Pūrangakura honours our partnerships with our whānau, hapū, iwi, marae and communities, and acknowledges the diversity of lived experiences, skills, knowledge and expertise. Kaupapa Māori is the commonality that brings all things together – our commitment to value and add-value to our cultural worlds, to bring positive and innovative solutions with, and for, our people.
Team
Our inaugural directors bring together a wealth of expertise, experience and enthusiasm to Pūrangakura.
Each person is a leader in their respective professions and are well regarded in te ao Māori with whānau, hapū, marae, iwi and communities. The directors work collectively to ensure the kaupapa of each project is honoured and strengthened. Guided by the values and practices of our tūpuna, the directors provide the tuapapa for the work of Pūrangakura.
Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan
(Waikato, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāti Mahuta)
Ngāhuia Eruera
(Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Tamatera)
Rau Hoskins
(Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi)
Eruera Lee-Morgan
(Te Arawa, Pare-Hauraki, Pare-Waikato)
Our Staff
Maia Ratana
(Te Arawa, Ngā Rauru kī Tahi, Ngāti Raukawa)
Jacqueline Paul
(Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)
Hanna-Marie Monga
(Ngāti Whātua, Te Uri o Hau, Cook Islands)
Dr Catherine Mitchell
(Taranaki)
Kim Himoana Penetito
(Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Tamaterā, Raukawa)
Dr Jo Mane
(Ngāpuhi)
Whitiao Paul
(Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Ruanui)
Pania Newton
(Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Waikato, Ngāti Mahuta)
Irene Farnham
(Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe)
Joanne Gallagher
(Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kahu, Ngai Takoto, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara)
Bernadette Lee Te Young
(Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Whakaeke)
Kate Lee
(Ngāti Hine)
India Miro Logan-Riley
(Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Rangitāne)
Te Nia Matthews
(Ngāti Kahu, Tūhoe)
Ariana Hond
(Taranaki, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāi Te Rangi)
Rhieve Grey
(Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa)
Projects
Some of our current research projects:
Generation Kāinga: Rangatahi building a regenerative and resilient Aotearoa
Science Lead:
Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan with a large fabulous team!
A four-year project funded by Endeavour, MBIE, this project addresses one of the most pressing Māori priorities and greatest aspirations: Māori housing tenure and our ability to exercise authority over our kāinga for the well-being of whānau, hapū, iwi and communities. This research project seeks to unlock the capacity of rangatahi Māori to become key agents in promoting and developing whānau housing and kāinga solutions. Our vision for Generation Kāinga focuses on enabling rangatahi to transform the future of kāinga through Indigenous collective and participatory processes of reimagination, resilience and regeneration so that Aotearoa is ‘the best place in the world’ for rangatahi and their whānau to live.
Marae Ora, Kāinga Ora (MOKO)
Science Lead:
Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan with a large fantastic team and five marae in South Auckland!
A three-year kaupapa Māori community research project funded by MBIE Endeavour, in collaboration with five South Auckland based marae – Papakura Marae, Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae, Makaurau Marae, Mataatua Marae and Manurewa Marae. MOKO draws attention to the innovative capability of marae and Kāinga to assume central roles in the provision of culturally based housing initiatives that can support and enhance our lives as whānau Māori in urban centres.
Urban Intergenerational Kāinga Innovations (UIKI)
Science Lead:
Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan
Urban Intergenerational Kāinga Innovations (UIKI) is a multi-project, four year programme of work based in Tāmaki Makaurau, funded by Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua; Building Better Homes Towns & Cities National Science Challenge. The three projects featured here are led by Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan: Marae ki te Kāinga; Rangatahi ki te Kāinga; Whare Kāhui.
Marae ki te Kāinga
Research Team:
Whitiao Paul, Irene Farnham, Dr Jo Mane, Dr Cat Mitchell and Kate Rodger
In collaboration with Te Puea Memorial Marae, this project focuses specifically on the whānau who have moved through the Manaaki Tāngata (MT) programme, into the ‘Whānau Ora Mana Motuhake’ phase. The purpose of this study is to better understand the ways whānau have reestablished homes and reconnected into their new communities.
Rangatahi ki te Kāinga
Research Team:
Maia Ratana, Jacqueline Paul, Pania Newton, Hanna-Marie Monga
Rangatahi Māori communities have their own distinctive issues, challenges and needs from experiencing homelessness to aspirations of homeownership. The objective of this project is to explore a diverse range of rangatahi Māori aspirations of kāinga to understand how to mobilise and navigate innovative pathways to secure an affordable and safe home that meets the intergenerational needs of whānau.
Te Whare Kāhui
Research Team:
Rau Hoskins and Kate Rodger
A key outcome of this project is to create both widespread awareness of the whare kāhui typology, as well as direct support for Marae and low – medium income whānau to develop their whare kāhui. This project will produce a prototype of a whare kāhui dwelling at Papatūānuku Marae.
Ko Te Aka Pūkāea kia ita, ko Te Aka Pūkāea kia eke!
Research Team:
Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan, Dr Jo Mane, Ruia Aperehama and Jo Gallagher
This two-year kaupapa Māori project investigates the ways in a two Māori medium pathways (bil- lingual and immersion) work together in a newly build Flexible Learning Space (FLS) to progress te reo Māori and the aspirations of whanau. This project takes a strengths-based approach, and is based on the experiences of Te Aka Pukaea, Newton Central School.
Kia tika te hii ika
Research Team:
Irene Kereama-Royal, Eruera Lee-Morgan, Maru Samuels and Greer Samuels (ICP) Iwi Collective Partnership.
This two year project investigates and shares examples where fisheries tīkanga from Iwi knowledge holders is remembered through continued practices or related to the protection and conservation of certain fish species of particular significance to their Iwi and geographic location. A key outcome of the project is re-telling some of the common tīkanga, kawa and principles of fisheries practice, to help inform future decision making of Māori commercial fishing activities.