35 new investigators for Te Pūnaha Matatini

Te Pūnaha Matatini Kaumātua Professor Tom Roa extends "a very warm and hearty welcome to the potential in this group of researchers who have won places amongst Te Pūnaha Matatini’s very dedicated team."

Te Pūnaha Matatini – literally ‘the meeting place of many faces’ – is a Tertiary Education Commission-funded Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) for complex systems hosted by the University of Auckland.

These new principal investigators will be able to participate in Te Pūnaha Matatini's research programmes, meetings and workshops, apply for funding, have a say in how it evolves, and contribute to meeting the strategic objectives of the CoRE. They will also be able to supervise Te Pūnaha Matatini PhD students, and bring their other PhD students and post-doctoral fellows into its emerging scientist network, TPM Whānau.

"Te Pūnaha Matatini’s world is opening up with the arrival of these new investigators," says Director Associate Professor Cilla Wehi. "They’re bringing fresh ideas, they’re bringing new passion, it’s going to be really exciting to see what we can do together."

"Every conversation I have with one of our new investigators gets me inspired."

New Te Pūnaha Matatini investigators

• Associate Professor David Aguirre (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Tuwharetoa), Massey University
• Dr Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle (Ngāi Tahu, Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi), University of Otago
• Dr Pete Russell (Ngāpuhi), University of Otago
  
• Dr Kelly Blincoe, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland
• Dr Céline Cattoën-Gilbert, NIWA
• Justin Connolly (Waikato-Tainui), Deliberate
• Dr Mairéad de Róiste, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
• Associate Professor Graham Donovan, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland
• Dr Tom Etherington, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
• Dr Peni Fukofuka, University of Canterbury
• Dr Gillian Gibb (Ngāti Mutunga), Massey University
• Professor Nick Golledge, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
• Dr Gina Grimshaw, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
• Dr Kyle Higham, Motu Research
• Mckayla Holloway (Ngāi Tahu), Cawthron Institute
• Professor Jodie Hunter, Massey University
• Associate Professor Libby Liggins, Massey University
• Dr Catriona MacLeod, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
• Associate Professor Alex Macmillan, University of Otago
• Dr Zac McIvor (Te Patupō), University of Otago
• Dr Sereana Naepi, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland
• Dr Lisa Pilkington, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland
• Dr Matt Pinkerton, NIWA
• Associate Professor Anna Santure, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland
• Associate Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu, University of Otago
• Simon Stewart (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa), Cawthron Institute
• Associate Professor Daniel Stouffer, University of Canterbury
• Dr Priya Subramanian, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland
• Dr Julia Talbot-Jones, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
• Dr Hiran Thabrew, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland
• Professor Holly Thorpe, University of Waikato
• Te Rerekohu Tuterangiwhiu (Ngapuhi, Ngaruahine, Ngai Te Rangi Waikato), Cawthron Institute
• Professor Rhema Vaithianathan, AUT
• Dr Grace Villamor, Scion
• Dr Jesse Whitehead, University of Waikato

Te Pūnaha Matatini received more than 60 excellent applications in their recent call for investigators, which meant their Strategic Leadership Group had some exceptionally difficult decision-making to do. They were awed by the breadth of expertise in the applications, and the openness and passion of the applicants.

“I thank all of those who applied, because it really was a privilege to read their applications,” says Cilla. “I would have loved to accept so many more.”