The Vision M膩tauranga Development Fund (VMDF) aims to develop mutually beneficial research partnerships with M膩ori communities, expand Indigenous knowledge (m膩tauranga M膩ori) research, and advance M膩ori academic leadership. Its approach enhances M膩ori success and unlocks science and innovation potential of M膩ori knowledge, people, and resources.
The recipients of this year鈥檚 fund are听补苍诲
Senior lecturer in Civil Systems Engineering Dr Peer鈥檚 project engages with M膩ori iwi and hap奴 to understand indigenous perspectives on energy, sustainability, and energy transitions.
The project 鈥淢膩ori perspectives in New 麻豆传媒高清鈥檚 sustainable energy future鈥 supports ongoing research on pathways towards a net-zero energy system, with the goal of integrating m膩tauranga M膩ori into planning and evaluating our energy futures in Aotearoa.
Dr Hughes, Senior 听听Lecturer in Civil and Natural Resources Engineering uses the fund to engage with hap奴 to investigate water resource resilience under climate change conditions, characterise past and future evolution of critical infrastructure systems that communities need for sustainable economies, and upskill locals in geospatial technologies to enhance their roles as kaitiaki (environmental stewards). His research is titled 鈥淚wi and Infrastructure 鈥 Enhancing Indigenous Input to Infrastructure System Development: A case study of Whirinaki, Hokianga, Te Tai Tokerau鈥.
See more information on UC鈥檚 M膩ori Research Partnerships听here.
