Our stories

Sally Davenport MNZM

Sally Davenport MNZM

Professor Sally Davenport, a Principal Investigator with Te Pūnaha Matatini, was recently appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to science.

Te Pūnaha Matatini scholar in the news

Te Pūnaha Matatini scholar in the news

Te Pūnaha Matatini Whānau PhD student Caleb Gemmell from the University of Auckland was recently interviewed by the NZ Herald about his ground-breaking research using social network analysis to examine ancient artefact movement in pre-European New Zealand.

Professor Murray Cox awarded Te Rangi Hīroa Medal

Professor Murray Cox awarded Te Rangi Hīroa Medal

Professor Murray Cox, a computational biologist in the Institute of Fundamental Sciences at Massey University in Palmerston North and a Principal Investigator at Te Pūnaha Matatini, has been awarded the Te Rangi Hīroa Medal for his anthropological work.

Ngā mihi ki a tātou

Ngā mihi ki a tātou

Tēnei te mihi nui ki ngā kaikōrero, mō rātou whakaaro, moemoea, wawata. Our huge thanks to the contributors for their thoughts, dreams, aspirations.

Restoring the mana of the Rotorua/Te Arawa lakes

Restoring the mana of the Rotorua/Te Arawa lakes

Something interesting has been happening in the Rotorua/Te Arawa lakes over the past decade or so. Instead of separating into factious groups, government, NGOs, iwi, members of the farming community, scientists and the wider community have united in kōrero and actions to support restoration efforts on the lakes. Perhaps this is a model for Aotearoa to follow?

How to rescue our fresh water

How to rescue our fresh water

New Zealand has a freshwater crisis. There is little doubt about this now as report after report has piled up over the last year. In an interview on his own report on the state of the country’s fresh water, the Prime Minister’s chief science advisor Sir Peter Gluckman said: “the reality is we cannot keep going as we have been.”

Waterway health at the heart of identity and wellbeing

Waterway health at the heart of identity and wellbeing

Waterway health is at the heart of identity and wellbeing. Signs restricting beach and river swimming or wading, and fish consumption, are becoming common sights across Aotearoa. So often missed, however, is how we may support existing kaitiaki and community groups to improve our environmental footprint.

The animalcules* within

The animalcules* within

Aotearoa has an abundance of streams that have enabled many of us to develop a personal connection with natural bodies of water over our lifetimes. However, while our streams are a wonderful feature of our landscape, they can also make us very sick.