Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto

Dr Emily Afoa

Dr Emily Afoa is a Chartered Engineer specialising in water sensitive design and the relationship between engineering practice and whole of catchment water systems. She joined Pūrangakura in March 2024 as a recipient of a ‘Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowship’ from The Royal Society Te Apārangi to undertake the research project, ‘Tiakina te wai: Reimagining the delivery of water services by engineers’. Emily is also a business owner with Tektus Consultants, a professional services firm delivering collaborative, multi-disciplinary solutions across engineering, environmental, and planning professions. As a kaupapa Māori researcher and engineer in leadership roles, Emily is shaping her engineering practice centering mātauranga and tīkanga Māori to make transformative change in the water sector, ultimately for the well-being of our communities.

Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga

Maia Ratana

Maia Ratana is a researcher at Pūrangakura, a lecturer at Unitec School of Architecture, and a PhD candidate at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. With research across Māori housing, homelessness, rangatahi leadership and equity in tertiary education, Maia is passionate about building relationships with Indigenous researchers and communities to create a better future for coming generations. Grounded in Kaupapa Māori research, her PhD explores ‘Kaupapa Rangatahi,’ a theory of change that challenges colonial norms and empowers rangatahi as leaders and change-makers. Her mahi reflects her unwavering commitment to centring rangatahi voices and fostering equitable, sustainable futures.

Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga

Jacqueline Paul

Jacqueline Paul is a researcher whose work explores the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, treaty relationships, and urban planning. Currently pursuing her doctorate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), her research examines how different treaty contexts shape Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination in land and housing affairs. Through Pūrangakura, she engages in research focused on improving housing and well-being outcomes for Māori communities.

Taranaki, Ngati Tara, Ngati Haupoto

Dr Cat Mitchell

Dr Cat Mitchell is a senior researcher at Pūrangakura, working on various projects related to te taiao, housing and homelessness. She holds a PhD in higher education from the University of Auckland and has more than fifteen years of experience as a lecturer in academic development. In her mahi, she utilises her expertise in postgraduate academic writing to aid in developing the scholarly publications of Pūrangakura. Her commitment to Kaupapa Māori underpins her work to share significant Māori stories and to support emerging Māori researchers.

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Toro, Te Popoto, Te Ngahengahe

Dr Jo Mane

Dr Jo Manes home is located in the south of Kaitaia, within the Mangataiore valley, under the protection of Maungataniwha. As part of a whānau and hapū-led initiative, she contributed to the establishment of Tautoko FM, an iwi radio broadcaster in Tai Tokerau. Working alongside her kuia to broadcast matters of importance to their local community provided her with a profound understanding of self-determination, where te reo Māori was placed at the forefront. This experience inspired her to pursue training in Kaupapa Māori education and research, fostering her active interest in community-based Kaupapa Māori research. Her work now focuses on supporting Māori-led initiatives that advance the aspirations of tino rangatiratanga and empower Māori communities to achieve their goals.

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Te Rarawa, Waikato

Liliana Clarke

Liliana Clarke is a passionate advocate for Māori empowerment, harnessing the power of science to uplift Māori communities. Specialising in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and natural resource management, she emphasises the significance of Maramataka and Te Whānau Marama in guiding sustainable environmental practices and cultural decision-making. As the Te Ao Māori Lead for the National Science Challenges, Liliana has worked closely with Māori landowners to ensure that land use decisions reflect cultural values and traditional knowledge. In her role as Project Manager for the Te Mana o te Wai Projects, she prioritises the aspirations and needs of iwi in water monitoring initiatives. Through her work, Liliana promotes indigenous knowledge, enriching academia and fostering a deeper connection to the whenua (land). Currently, she is pursuing her PhD at the University of Waikato, exploring the integration of Maramataka and other traditional Māori knowledge systems in contemporary environmental management.

Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe

Irene Farnham

Irene Farnham is a Kaupapa Māori researcher at Pūrangakura, with a background in social work and a passion for empowering Māori communities. Witnessing the systemic undervaluing of Indigenous ways of being, she is dedicated to creating meaningful change. Irene has extensive experience providing cultural support, guidance, and education in social services, particularly in housing, youth services, and whānau advocacy. She recently completed her Master of Applied Social Practice, focusing on the gendered and racial challenges Māori women face in leadership. Her research and practice aim to amplify Māori voices and perspectives to benefit Māori communities. Irene plans to begin her PhD studies in 2025, furthering her commitment to Kaupapa Māori research and advocating for systemic change to uplift Māori well-being and self-determination.

Ngāti Whātua, Te Uri o Hau, Cook Islands

Hanna-Marie Monga

Hanna-Marie Monga is passionate about supporting Māori and Pasifika peoples on their housing journeys through research and architecture. She has her Masters in applied architecture studies and research coordination, she is particularily interested in designing culturally informed housing solutions that reflect and enhance the identities of the communities she serves.

Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Rangitāne

India Miro Logan-Riley

India Logan-Riley (They/Them) is a community researcher on the Generation Kāinga project, bringing expertise in Māori heritage spaces and lived experience of climate injustice. Their work spans diverse areas, from United Nations climate negotiations to grassroots initiatives such as the #LandBack with rangatahi Māori and Pasifika. Alongside their role with Generation Kāinga, India serves as the Climate Justice Campaigner at the Pacific Network on Globalisation, advocating for Ikonomik Justice in the Pacific. India envisions resilient, joyful communities where everyone thrives and sees the Generation Kāinga project as a step toward realising this vision. Their mahi reflects a deep commitment to climate justice, Indigenous empowerment, and sustainable futures.

Taranaki, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāi Te Rangi

Ariana Hond

Arianna Hond is an emerging researcher, actively developing her knowledge and nurturing her passion for action-focused community research. Completing her Psychology Honours at the University of Auckland, she is part of the qualitative team for Generation Kāinga. Tasked with speaking to rangatahi, she seeks to continue building her capabilities to advocate for her people and contribute to research that meaningfully serves her communities.

Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Whaawhaakia, Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Escence Kingi Williams

Escence is a communications specialist with a background in environmental policy and a strong commitment to kaupapa Māori. She excels in crafting clear, culturally grounded messaging and fostering meaningful engagement with iwi Māori. With a passion for storytelling and values-driven communication, Escence integrates Te Ao Māori into her work to ensure authenticity and respect for cultural narratives. At Pūrangakura, she is dedicated to amplifying Māori research and strengthening connections between researchers, communities, and stakeholders through impactful storytelling.

Ngāti Whakaeke, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Mahuta, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāpuhi, Tainui

Bernadette Lee Te Young

Raised in a loving and supportive whānau with strong values, Bernadette applies these principles in her role, demonstrating excellent organisational skills and manaakitanga to support kaimahi across various administrative and organisational tasks. With a background in accounts, Bernadette has gradually returned to this field, overseeing the accounts and payroll for Pūrangakura. Throughout, she maintains her commitment to manaakitanga, ensuring a welcoming environment for her colleagues and the manuhiri visiting Pūrangakura. I feel fortunate to work alongside incredible Māori role models in a supportive environment that allows her to deepen her connection to Māoritanga and build confidence through learning.

Waikato, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāti Mahuta

Stephen Lee