Research Team

Dr Angus Hikairo Macfarlane

Dr Angus Hikairo Macfarlane  (Ngā Pumanawa e waru o Te Arawa, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whakaue) is a Professor of Māori Research at the University of Canterbury (UC). His research focuses on exploring Indigenous and sociocultural imperatives that influence education and psychology. ​

Dr Sonja Herahine Macfarlane

​Dr Sonja Herahine Macfarlane (Ngāi Tahu; Ngāti Waewae) is a Pouhikiahurea (Practice and Implementation Adviser Māori) at the Ministry of Education (MoE), and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury (UC). Her research focuses on exploring evidence based culturally responsive practices that influence education, psychology and counselling.

​Dr Jo Fletcher

​Dr Jo Fletcher is an Associate Professor in literacy education. Her background as a primary teacher has led her to have a passion for supporting Māori students in their learning and wellbeing. Jo’s research has focused on supporting Māori and she has worked alongside matai in supporting Pasifika students in their literacy learning.

Dr Te Hurinui Clarke

Dr Te Hurinui Clarke (Te Arawa; Ngāi Tahu) is a senior lecturer in the School of Teacher Education. He is a former secondary school teacher of te reo me ōna tikanga. His research interests include the creation of culturally responsive and engaging synchronous online teaching and learning programmes.

Dr Tia Neha

Dr Tia Neha (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahungnu, Te Whānau a Āpanui me Ngāti Porou) is a lecturer in Māori and indigenous psychology at the Victoria University of Wellington . Tia has over 20 years’ experience in the education sector, having worked as an early childhood, primary, and secondary school teacher.

Dr Susannah Stevens ​

Dr Susannah Stevens is a lecturer in the School of Teacher Education, and is the Manager of Te Kāhui Pā Harekeke | Child Well-being Research Institute at the University of Canterbury. She is a former secondary school teacher, a mother, and a staunch ally. Her research centres on policy and pedagogical practice of physical education, physical activity, hauora and well-being.

Fiona Duckworth

Fiona Duckworth is a former youth and community development worker. She contracts as a Research Advisor for Te Rū Rangahau (Māori Research Laboratory), University of Canterbury and also works in central government contexts. She has a focus on embedding culturally responsive approaches into policy and practice and on how Aotearoa New Zealand mainstream society can make progress with decolonisation.

Jen Smith

Jen Smith (Ngāti Whātua & Ngapuhi) is a lecturer in Māori education at UC. She is a former primary school teacher. Her main research interest centre  around the creation of culturally safe spaces for Māori teachers as well as giving our Pākehā allies cultural tools to create exception educational environments for all. ​​
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Toni Torepe (Ngāi Tahu)

Toni Torepe (Ngāi Tahu) is a Lecturer in the College of Education, Health and Human Development and is a doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland, Australia. Toni currently lectures and coordinates courses in the Bachelor of Teaching and Learning and the Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Teaching. Toni has previously held tertiary teaching positions at the Christchurch Polytechnic and the University of Otago.
 
Toni has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and a Masters of Education (Hons) from the University of Canterbury. She has a particular research interest in Māori educator experiences particularly in education environments of a Eurocentric nature. This interest also extends to the experiences of Indigenous educators and ethnic minor academics internationally. 

Dr ​Melissa Derby (Ngāti Ranginui) 

Melissa Derby (Ngāti Ranginui) is a Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Waikato. She completed her PhD at the University of Canterbury, and her study was part of A Better Start National Science Challenge. Melissa is a member of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education, and co-editor of their blog Ipu Kererū. 
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Marie Gibson    

​Marie Gibson (Ngati Porou) is currently completing her studies at the University of Canterbury having over twenty years lived experience of working in the teaching and learning spaces for children as a teacher and learner. Her research focuses on the importance of identity development, whānau centred approaches to parenting and wellbeing as well as exploring culturally responsive practices that improve educational outcomes for Māori.

Zhanni Luo

​Zhanni Luo is a doctoral student in University of Canterbury, working on teachers’ acceptance of gamification for educational purposes. Zhanni has a Bachelor of Arts (English language and literature) from Sichuan University, Masters of Arts (Education) from University of Nottingham. 

Nathan Riki

Nathan Riki (Tainui) is a former primary school leader who began lecturing at UC earlier this year. He has spent a significant amount of time in the past working as a lead teacher of culturally responsive practices within the Waimairi-iri Kāhui Ako. He is passionate about anything to do with te ao Māori and has made it a personal goal of his to ensure that all schools are safe places for all Māori students.
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Teariki Tuiono

Teariki is from South Auckland where he worked as a primary school teacher for six years. In 2016, he received a TeachNZ scholarship to get his Master’s Degree. Now he is onto his PhD, specialising in Māori language revitalisation and culturally inclusive teaching. His main mission is to normalise the speaking of te reo in schools as well as the organisations and businesses around them. Teariki’s goal is to do a PhD that has both practical and theoretical applications. That way he can do something useful for the community and add to the research base as well.