Ngāi Tūhoe
General Manager - Maori & Pacific Partnerships
Marino Tahi joined the NIWA Science Management team in 2015. He came to NIWA from Landcare Research where he was Māori Partnerships Manager since 2006. He leads NIWA’s endeavours to maximise the transfer of natural resources and environmental science knowledge to Māori entities and communities, leading Te Kūwaha and working across NIWA sta to achieve this. His tribal affiliations are Ngāi Tūhoe, and he comes from Ruatahuna, a small settlement in Te Urewera.
Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Te Whānau ā Apanui
Pou Whakarae - Te Hiringa Taiao
Erica started at NIWA in 1995. After completing a MSc (University of Waikato) developing a blue mussel embryo-larval toxicity test, she spent a number of years in the NIWA freshwater fisheries team. Here she gained skills in fish population studies, the downstream migration adult eels and fish passage through culverts. Her PhD (University of Auckland) investigated the effects of a group of contaminants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on shellfish. She is currently working on a wide range of projects spanning both the marine and freshwater environments within the National Centre of Māori Environmental Research.
Ngāti Raukawa
Regional Manager - Nelson
Darren is a research scientist with experience spanning the earth and human-system sciences. He joined NIWA in 2001. In addition to being the Regional Manager for Nelson, he leads NIWA’s Māori Environmental Research Programme ‘Hazards, Climate and Māori Society’ and holds a joint position on the Kāhui Māori for the Deep South National Science Challenge and the Antarctic Science Platform.
Waikato, Ngāti Maahanga
Pou Hononga - Freshwater Environment
Erina has expertise in freshwater research. Her interests include indigenous frameworks for resource management and governance, tuna and other taonga species, lake restoration and pest fish eradication/control. She is a strong advocate for undertaking research that is co-developed with whānau, hapū and iwi, that also builds capacity.
Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erina-watene-rawiri-35a69168/
Ngāti Kahungunu, Marangatuhetaua
Pou Hononga - Maori and the Marine Environment
Kelly May (Ngāti Kahungunu, Marangatuhetaua) is a member of NIWA's Māori Environmental Research team and primarily works on marine fisheries projects. Kelly is passionate about the environment and believes strategic research with Māori enhances growth and protection of whānau, hapū, iwi values. She completed her Masters degree in Aquaculture at Deakin University Australia returning to Nelson to work as a Marine Biology and Aquaculture Technician at NIWA. Kelly's other work experience includes being a Marine Studies Technician at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, scuba diving instructor, and a Fisheries Manager for the Challenger Scallop Enhancement Company (CSEC) in Nelson.
Ngāti Koata, Tainui-a-whiro, Ngāti Porou
Maori Organisational Development Manager
Darcel Rickard is an early career researcher who joined NIWA in February 2016 in a hybrid science communication/environmental researcher role. Darcel has a background in environmental monitoring and management, however her real passion lies in the communication and engagement of rangatahi, whanau and hapu in science. Darcel leads the science communication and outreach programme for NIWAs National Centre of Māori Environmental Research (Te Kūwaha) within which NIWA aims to promote the science impact and value-add capabilities of the research that our Māori researchers do with hapu, iwi and Maori communities throughout Aotearoa. The programme also looks to increasing Māori science capacity and capability with whanau, hapu and Māori communities.
Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-a- Apanui
Pou Ārahi – Māori Development Leader
Andre has joined NIWA from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
The Pou Ārahi role is to build and strengthen our relationships with hapū, iwi, and Māori communities to respond to their research priorities and aspirations. Andre’s approach to codevelopment of projects ensures Māori voice is heard and aspirations are embedded.
Taranaki, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Rangi, Te Taou
Pou Ārahi – Māori Development Leader
Lee recently worked for Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o Te Ika (Port Nicholson Block) as Kaiwhakahaere Taiao me Tono – Manager, Environmental and Cultural Services. Her Pou Ārahi role is charged with guiding staff to work collaboratively with Māori that creates, implements and delivers on best practice. Nā te mahi tahi, waiho ma te tangata e mihi!
Tainui
Pou Ārahi – Māori Development Leader
Niketi is a whanau, hapū and iwi engagement specialist. He has over 27 years of experience in iwi consultation and designing and managing iwi engagement. In his role as a Pou Ārahi he looks to facilitate strong working relationships between whanau, hapū and iwi and NIWA.
