Pūrangakura Hosts Harvard Student for Wai Ora Kāinga Ora Research Internship
Recently, Pūrangakura had the privilege of welcoming Prasanthi Cottingham, a Master's student in Urban Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, as a Wai Ora Kāinga Ora Research Intern.
Prasanthi's work on advanced data mapping has significantly contributed to the Wai Ora Kāinga Ora research programme. This ambitious research programme aims to regenerate local waters and ecosystems by implementing intergenerational, kāinga based solutions.
During her internship, Prasanthi applied her expertise to the project by focusing on the intersection of demographic and physical data mapping. This included gathering and presenting key information on local environmental issues. Her skills in visual communication were a significant asset, as she used a range of specialist techniques to create collages, axonometric views of sites, and innovative mapping to create communication materials that made complex sets of information more accessible to both communities and stakeholders. We wish to acknowledge Prasanthi for her excellent work and look forward to staying in touch with her as she progresses her studies at Harvard.
Establishing this internship demonstrates the importance Pūrangakura places on scholarly collaborations. As Prof Jenny Lee-Morgan, Director at Pūrangakura says, “our work with Prasanthi, is a significant collaboration as we develop strategies to strengthen kāinga based climate resilience that connects local solutions, whilst also reaching an international academic network”. Pūrangakura looks forward to continuing to build connections that support innovative research and the development of future leaders in Indigenous-led urban and environmental planning.
