Marae Ora, Kāinga Ora (MOKO)

About this project:

MOKO is a three-year kaupapa Māori marae-based research project. Funded by MBIE Endeavour, we collaborate with five South Auckland 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. It also seeks to provide insights, influence and opportunities for others, including external agencies and services, to achieve greater outcomes for whānau and community well-being.

…culturally based housing initiatives that can support and enhance our lives as whānau Māori in urban centres.

MOKO Launch at Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, Unitec Mt Albert, Auckland, March 2020. Each of the five marae representatives are holding copies of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in partnership with the Research Centre.

…to achieve greater outcomes for whānau and community well-being.

MOKO Team hui with Marae-based Research Coordinators held at Mataatua Marae, Māngere, November 2020.

Research Aim:

To support marae to develop sustainable marae-led kāinga initiatives. Through the multi-year project marae have the opportunity to closely collaborate with each other with the goal of strengthening knowledge sharing, enhancing networks, sharing resources to achieve enhanced outcomes for whānau and community. A further aspiration for this research is to develop a framework for marae-led community wellbeing and marae-based community wellbeing indicators.

Our Research Team:

This large multidisciplinary research team is led by Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan, alongside key members of Pūrangakura including Rau Hoskins, Kim Penetito, Dr Cat Mitchell, Dr Jo Mane and Ngahuia Eruera.

Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan

(Waikato, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāti Mahuta)

is a senior kaupapa Māori researcher. Formerly the inaugural Director of Ngā Wai a te Tūī Māori and Indigenous Research Centre, Unitec, Jenny has led several large community centred research projects. Currently she is also a Trustee of Te Ahiwaru Trust and Te Motu o Hiaroa Charitable Trust.

Rau Hoskins

(Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi)

is a renowned Māori practitioner, researcher and educator in Māori architecture, housing and cultural landscape design. As the founding Director of DesignTribe architects, a board member of Toi Ngāpuhi and Trustee of Te Matapihi, Rau works closely with iwi and agencies to advocate for better Māori housing solutions.

Kim Himoana Penetito

(Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Tamaterā, Raukawa)

has a Masters in Māori Development, and a background in Kaupapa Māori community development, training and education. She is the co-director of Hauā Partnerships and a researcher at Pūrangakura.

Dr Cat Mitchell

(Taranaki)

is a senior researcher with a PhD in higher education from the University of Auckland. Cat works across a range of projects including Marae Ora Kāinga Ora, Marae ki te Kāinga and Digital Twin: Ihumataao.

Dr Jo Mane

(Ngāpuhi)

is a senior kaupapa Māori researcher. As part of a community-led initiative, Jo was integral in the establishment of tribal radio in Ngapuhi. Her Masters study documented a history of the radio station Tautoko FM and her doctoral thesis studied ‘The Impact of Māori Language Broadcasting on Māori Language Survival’.

Ngāhuia Eruera

(Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Tamatera)

brings a wealth of business solutions and operational management expertise from her background and senior leadership roles in sports, tertiary education (Wānanga) and research sectors. A home-grown ‘pa’ girl she is passionate about whānau wellbeing and hauora Māori, in particular marae development. She is currently a board member of the Auckland Mataatua Society Inc and Te Tini o Toi Housing Trust.

We are pleased to collaborate with other kaupapa Māori researchers:
Rihi Te Nana (BBHTC, BRANZ Ltd), Irene Kereama Royal (Ngā Wai a te Tūī), Dr Mohi Rua (University of Auckland), Dr Jessica Hutchings (Tiaho Ltd), Shirley Simmonds, Anaru Waa (Massey University), Lena Henry (University of Auckland), Wayne Knox (Te Matapihi).

Our marae-based researchers included:
Pania Newton and Moana Waa (Makaurau Marae), Hineamaru Ropati (Papatūānuku Kokiri Marae), Harlin Raerino-Gray, Baari Mio (Mataatua Marae), Krissy Bishop, Kahleyn Evans, Helena Stephens (Manurewa), Greer Samuels, Roxanne Joyce, Luella Linaker (Papakura Marae).

We acknowledge Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki as hosts of the project in its final phase.