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.

Waikato, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāti Mahuta

Prof. Jenny Lee-Morgan

Professor Jenny Lee-Morgan has a distinguished background in teaching and kaupapa Māori research. Jenny has led and contributed to several large community projects, including the Endeavour MBIE-funded ‘Generation Kāinga Rangatahi Building A Resilient and Regenerative Aotearoa’, the Marsden-funded ‘Matike mai Te Hiaroa #Protect Ihumātao’, and ‘Marae Ora Kāinga Ora’, among others. In 2016, she received the Te Tohu Pae Tawhiti Award from the New Zealand Association for Research in Education, recognising her high-quality research and significant contribution to Māori education. Jenny co-edited the award-winning book Decolonizing Research Indigenous Storywork as Methodology (2019) with Prof Joan Archibald and Dr Jason De Santolo. Her most recent book, Tiakina te Pā Harakeke Ancestral Knowledge and Tamariki Wellbeing (2022), was co-edited with Dr Leonie Pihama.

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.

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.

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.

Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahu

Te Nia Matthews

Te Nia Matthews is an emerging researcher dedicated to advancing Māori Political Sovereignty as a means to address poverty and housing inequality. He recently earned his Master’s degree from Victoria University of Wellington, where his thesis, *Huringa o te Taiao: Tūhoe Environmental and Ecological Changes Through the Lens of the Maramataka*, explored the intersection of traditional Māori knowledge and environmental change. Passionate about social justice, Te Nia is committed to advocating for the rights of working people in Aotearoa. He believes that dismantling neoliberalism is essential to improving the quality of life for whānau and creating a more equitable society.

Te Arawa

Ben Barton

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.

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.

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.

Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Tamatera

Ngahuia Eruera

Ngāhuia Eruera is a dynamic and values-driven leader with over 25 years’ experience in business strategy, kaupapa Māori advancement, and executive management. With a proven track record across the sports, wānanga, and research sectors, she brings sharp operational acumen and a deep commitment to whānau wellbeing and marae development. A proud ‘pa’ girl, Ngāhuia currently serves on the boards of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, Auckland Mataatua Society Inc and Te Tini o Toi Housing Trust. As a co-founding Director of Pūrangakura, she provides strategic leadership to ensure research is grounded in mātauranga Māori and driven by whānau, hapū and iwi. Her leadership is anchored in the principles of manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga and tino rangatiratanga, shaping enduring, transformative impact across Aotearoa.

Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai

Rau Hoskins

Rau Hoskins is a renowned practitioner, researcher and educator with over three decades of experience in Māori architecture, housing and cultural landscape design. Raised in Whangārei, he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from the University of Auckland. Rau combines kaupapa Māori design principles with skills in iwi engagement, urban design, Māori heritage, and cultural consultancy. In addition to his role as a director of Pūrangakura, he is also a founding director of TRIBE Architects, an architectural practice which specialises in cultural, health, urban, and educational projects. Rau served on the Auckland Council urban design panel (2012–20) and contributes to major developments like the City Rail Link and Aotea Over Station Development. He was the founding Chairperson of Te Matapihi he Tirohanga mo te Iwi, a national Māori housing network, and co-created the award-winning Māori architecture series Whare Māori, which won Best Information Programme at the 2011 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards.

Te Arawa, Pare-Hauraki, Pare-Waikato

Eruera Lee-Morgan

Eruera Lee Morgan brings 18 years of experience working with iwi across Aotearoa on diverse projects, including Māori language revitalisation, broadcasting, education, and social initiatives. With 30 years in media and multiple awards, Eruera is a skilled bilingual speaker and MC. He currently advises Te Taumata Arowai and Waka Kotahi on integrating mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori values into public transport, urban design, and regulatory frameworks. A recent graduate of WaterNZ’s Te Mana o te Wai course, he was invited to present on Te Arawa tribal waters. As a former Principal Advisor for the Ministry of Māori Development, Eruera is well-versed in government processes, policy, and reforms, including Te Maihi Karauna and the Māori Media Sector Shift review. Committed to excellence in te reo Māori me ngā tikanga, he strives to elevate cultural consciousness and achievements for whānau, hapū, iwi, and Aotearoa.