Associate Professor Kura Paul-Burke blends western science with mātauranga Māori to help coastal communities manage marine taonga. Shellfish such as mussels indicate the health of our coastal environments and are a valued food source. In Ohiwa Harbour, Paul-Burke used local understanding of natural signs – ngā tohu o te taiao – and maramataka (the Māori…
Dr Ian Kusabs has proven that a traditional Māori fishing method stacks up scientifically for monitoring the health of lakes and streams. Tau kōura uses bundles of bracken tied to submerged ropes, which provide an attractive habitat for native crayfish. Kōura is a keystone species in our freshwater ecosystems and function in Dr Kusabs’s words…
Dr Nina Scott’s research brings Mātauranga Māori to medicine, tangibly improving health outcomes for Māori. A leading expert in the use of kaupapa Māori methodologies for health research with more than 30 peer reviewed articles to her name, Dr Scott’s latest achievement is the Harti Hauora Tamariki Study. Designed using the He Pikanga Waiora Framework…
Better blood sugar control for our region’s 25,000 diabetics is the Waikato Diabetes Research Team’s goal. This joint University of Waikato/Waikato DHB initiative is examining both primary and secondary health services, aiming to streamline processes, address gaps and improve diabetes management, outcomes and equity of care. Its most recent large study (just one of the…
Dr Fiona Petchey’s innovations in radiocarbon dating are solving complex geological, archaeological and forensic puzzles. Radiocarbon dating fragments of bone and/or shell can provide clues to geological or environmental change, human migration and sometimes crime. However, environmental factors – including whether the sample is marine or terrestrial in origin – can affect the radiocarbon signal…
Dr Joanne Ellis is recognised internationally for her insight into the response of marine environments to natural and man-made stressors. Dr Ellis’s focus research examines the impact of factors such as fishing, marine mining, wind farms and nutrient/sediment runoff on seabed ecosystems, from shallow, tidal environments like mangrove forests and seagrass beds to the deep…
Tiny keys to big global environmental questions – past, present and future – are Dr Adam Hartland’s specialty. A Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato, Dr Hartland’s focus is on the interaction between natural organic matter, nanoparticles and trace elements in soil, water and minerals. He has unravelled clues to climate change in stalagmites…
Civil engineer and software enthusiast, Alexios Kavallaris makes massive projects manageable with Gnosis. Building on 20 years experience working on complex roading and infrastructure projects across New Zealand and Europe, Alexios developed Gnosis to help construction and engineering industry professionals to collaborate, communicate and administrate challenging projects with ease. Alexios Kavallaris Data master Back to…
RespiratorNZ’s ventilator adapts milking machine technology to help fight the global Covid-19 battle. Jeff Sharp was keen for his plastics company to support New Zealand’s pandemic preparedness. Teaming up with his neighbours – both doctors – he settled on a challenging but vital piece of equipment: the ventilator. Starting with an old but effective mechanical…
PharmaNZ has transformed a disused meatworks coolstore into a world-class pharmaceutical success story. From sausages to supplements in 18 months: the old Hutton’s coolstore in Frankton is now New Zealand’s only one-stop-shop for natural health and dietary supplement development. Capable of taking products from concept to shelf, from small runs for start-ups to bulk manufacture…