Complexities

We combine macro and micro knowledges — getting down to the nitty-gritty and zooming out for the larger picture — to develop understandings of life.

Our interests include Indigenous psychologies, psychoanalytic theories, critiques of psychiatry, political psychology, and evolution, cognition and the arts.

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We study the philosophy, sociology, evolution and use of humanity's physical and digital technological systems, ancient to contemporary.

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Looking at aspects from accent to syntax to pragmatics, we study how languages, from English to Chinese to Tongan to Ryukyuan, work to convey meaning.

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We use and critique cultural, social, critical, feminist and post-colonial theory, and philosophy, poetics and logic.

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Professor Linda Waimarie Nikora works to develop Indigenous psychologies to serve the aspirations of indigenous peoples.

Meet Linda

Dr Greg Minissale's research suggests that taking time out to let our minds wander has real benefits.

Meet Greg

Dilys Johns conserves waterlogged wood artefacts and tools around Aotearoa — offering the scientific side of larger stories.

Meet Dilys

COMPASS uses data technologies to undertake cutting-edge quantitative social science research to improve the lives of New Zealanders.

Visit COMPASS

Institutions can empower the vulnerable and/or discriminate and attack. We study collective actions and categories: their causes, effects and resistance.

Critiquing institutions

People make, shape and break physical and political locations — and vice versa. We study kaitiakitanga, disaster recovery, health and migration — old and new.

Exploring places

Narratives help us to explain events, actions and motivations with a beginning, middle and end. We study the stories of others and create our own.

Telling stories