Hutihuti e! Ka tau e
Hutihuti e! Ka tau e
Tipatipa kai pae ngā pukepuke
Tuputupu e Nuku
Whitiwhiti e Rangi
Ka hua e Rongo
Ka nui e Rongo ē – auē
E tupu ē
Kia ora e te whānau o Wakatū,
There is an opportunity for whānau to complete a PhD as part of a five-year MBIE Endeavour project Kai anamata mō Aotearoa co-led by Wakatū Incorporation.
The food system in Aotearoa faces multifaceted challenges. It is imperative that resilient food systems are developed to reduce Aotearoa New Zealand’s vulnerability to changing environmental, economic, and social pressures, while enhancing the wellbeing of people, tangata ora, and the environment, taiao ora.
An MBIE programme – Kai anamata mō Aotearoa – is tackling these challenges. Led jointly by Wakatū and the Riddet Institute at Massey University, the project will develop a computational model of our food system that can describe the broad effects of land use changes on the wellbeing of people – tangata ora - and the environment – taiao ora. In addition, the programme will support Māori-led research including assessment of the food system in Te Tauihu; developing a pathway towards a knowledge-intensive regenerative food system and testing the scalability of current, new, and indigenous species. Mātauranga Māori and western science will come together to accelerate momentum towards climate positive food production systems. The programme will inform evidence-based decisions leading to change that supports a resilient food sector. At the regional level a food system strategy will be developed for Te Tauihu.
About the PhD
In this PhD you will be involved in a research topic aligned with Kai Anamata mō Aotearoa, and the development of a Te Tauihu food systems strategy and related topics. Our food systems strategy should promote high-quality accessible food, the intergenerational health of people and place, the healing of our whenua and the restoration of our waterways. It should detail an aspirational plan to enable local and regional sustainability and resilience in food production and land use.
PhD research could focus on broad or specific areas linked to the food system strategy, for example:
How to translate tikanga-led regenerative agriculture at a local marae-led scale to a regional strategy?
How to advance whānau expectations for tikanga-led land-use in a financially sustainable and scalable way?
What regional scenarios might look like in the future with and without Māori influence (aided by applying the model developed in the programme)?
Alignment of the PhD with case studies at two māra exploring tikanga-led, land-use opportunities with a focus on the scalability of current, new, and indigenous species, implementing tikanga-led farming practices is expected. There will be opportunities to integrate tikanga-led research approaches, which incorporate Māori values and kaitiakitanga, and emphasise holistic, long-term wellbeing for the environment and community with conventional science balancing both perspectives - whilst ensuring indigenous knowledge is prominent.
A PhD stipend of NZ$35,000 per year (for to 3.5 years), full cover of tuition fees, and research support (i.e. travel in NZ and equipment) are provided to the successful applicant, and there may be additional scholarship funds available for suitable applicants.
About you
Ideally, you will:
have a relevant first-class honour or Master’s degree
interest in and knowledge of our strategies and programmes surrounding Taiao Ora, Tangata Ora and Whenua Ora are an advantage
meet PhD enrolment requirements.
There is flexibility in the choice of University that hosts the PhD.
Applications close Friday 1 November 2024.
Please contact Deb Skelton, Pou Tangata on debra.skelton@wakatu.org for further information.