University research centres

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Directors: Hanneke Hulst and Deputy-Directors, Makarena Dudley and Alan Barber.

Mission: The mission of the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) is to improve our understanding of the brain in order to improve outcomes for people throughout Aotearoa New Zealand with neurological disorders, through world-class collaborative brain research, clinical care, education and community interaction. At the core of the CBR Mission is the development of reciprocal transdisciplinary relationships, which span from the laboratory to the clinic to whānau and the community, enabling us to address research problems of critical concern, provide novel insights on the brain, and develop new treatment strategies to enhance care and give hope to people and families affected by brain diseases. The CBR recognises the unique status of Māori as the tangata whenua of Aotearoa. The CBR will develop strong interactions with the Māori community to promote and achieve equitable outcomes for those whānau living with neurological disorders as guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Homepage: Centre for Brain Research

Hosted by: Faculty of Science, co-hosted by the Business School, Faculty of Arts and Education and Faculty of Engineering and Design

Director: Dan Tompkins.

Mission: Ngā Ara Whetū will lead and contribute to world-class research and training, driving just and ethical action on climate change and the environment for thriving peoples and planetary wellbeing. Humanity is inseparable from nature: health, vitality and survival depend on ecosystems within which we live (oranga). “It’s now or never” to limit global warming, restore nature’s place (whakaora), and secure a liveable future. Disruptive transitions (hurihuri) are required that must be informed by knowledge and grounded in environmental and social justice (manatika). Ngā Ara Whetū responds to this need, connecting Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland’s research strength with knowledge and wisdom of ngā iwi Māori and interested parties to shape agendas, improve decisions and enhance capacities in support of:

• The just and urgent transition to a healthy, low carbon and zero pollution future.
• Fair and effective adaptation to climate change.
• Rehabilitation and expansion of natural spaces.
• Realisation of social structures for collaborative planning, policy and action.

Through this Centre, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland will take its place amongst the many global actors striving to reduce climate risk and enable resilient and biodiverse ecosystems, thereby supporting fairer and healthier societies of Auckland.

Homepage: Ngā Ara Whetū - Centre for Climate, Biodiversity & Society

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Directors: Ngaire Kerse, Joanna Hikaka and Tia Reihana.

Mission: To develop a transdisciplinary centre that will deliver creative and innovative solutions to realise opportunities, needs, and concerns identified by older people, to improve health, wellbeing and human flourishing. To walk alongside Māori and Pacific communities as equitable partners unlocking human potential by giving older people, researchers and other stakeholders the opportunity to co-create world-class ageing research. To be guided by kotahitanga, fostering inclusivity that is respectful of the diversity of older people and the communities to which they belong, which includes:

• Aroha ki te tangata. Respectfulness and allowing people to define their own space and meet on their own terms.
• He kanohi kitea. Meeting face-to-face, being seen and engaging within communities.
• Titiro, whakarongo…kōrero. Looking, listening and then maybe speaking. Developing an understanding of communicating with iwi Māori (and other ethnicities) in order to find a place from which to speak.
• Manaaki ki te tangata. Providing a hospitable, safe, physical and social environment to share knowledge.
• Kia tūpato. Being cautious, respectful and having a critical approach to engagement.
• Kaua e takahia te mana o te tangata. Respecting the mana of all involved and affected by research through partnership and power-sharing.
• Kaua e mahaki. Inclusion and co-creation of many knowledge forms.

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Director: Sir Collin Tukuitonga, and Deputy Directors, Judith McCool, Kara Okesene-Gafa and Roannie Ng Shiu. 

Mission: Our mission is to positively impact health in the Pacific region and globally, through high-quality research founded in partnership and local ownership. Our transdisciplinary approach focuses on co-created solutions, equity, capacity development and fostering local, regional and global leadership. We will build on our existing relationships within the University and beyond.

We will work collaboratively to design and deliver solutions to our region's most pressing challenges: non-communicable diseases, the health impact of the climate crisis, pandemic preparedness and the health of children and young people. We promote Pacific values, priorities and knowledge. We acknowledge diversity in knowledge processes, grounded in the principles and values of Pacific data sovereignty. We draw on Pacific indigenous knowledge and frameworks such as talanoa and wayfinding, mātauranga Māori, epidemiology, clinical medicine, social sciences and humanities.

We welcome scholars, students and partners from government, non-government, regional and global organisations to work with us within a co-creation model. Pacific-led research (building capacity, enhancing capabilities in growth areas) will advance policy, advocacy, leadership and innovative initiatives for promoting health and wellbeing for Pacific populations. Working with interconnected research hubs and research platforms, we will offer training and leadership opportunities for emerging scholars.

Homepage: Research offered under the Office of the Associate Dean Pacific

Hosted by: Faculty of Arts and Education
Directors: Tia Dawes

Mission: The James Henare Research Centre is Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland's leading Māori transdisciplinary research centre. The Centre is committed to co-designing and co-creating excellent research with Te Tai Tokerau flaxroots communities, underpinned by the transformative values of Te Ao Māori. We envisage a future where our shared research enables our community partners to exercise mana motuhake and lead decisions that affect their social, environmental and economic wellbeing.

Our approach to research excellence is founded on Manaakitanga (support and encouragement), Whanaungatanga (relationships) and Rangatiratanga (leadership). With a dedicated research team and administration infrastructure including our established archive, we promote Māori scholarship and actively train and professionalise Māori graduate and early career researchers. In stimulating creativity and focusing on local Māori issues, we are preparing the next generation of Māori researchers to think holistically, deeply and critically, and to positively contribute to the world.

Homepage: James Henare Māori Research Centre

Hosted by: Faculty of Engineering and Design.
Directors: Deidre Brown, Karamia Müller, and James Miller.

Mission: MĀPIHI: Māori and Pacific Housing Research Centre advances Māori and Pacific-led housing research to improve housing quality, supply, and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. Our centre’s mission is to improve housing quality and supply for Māori and Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. Our work is Manaaki-centred, grounded in tikanga Māori, Pacific values, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Vision Mātauranga, expert knowledge, and transdisciplinary research. We work across communities, iwi, Pacific organisations, NGOs, industry, local and central government, and research partners to generate evidence, build capability, and support transformational change in housing systems.

Māori and Pacific communities are disproportionately affected by housing challenges, including low housing and land supply, affordability pressures, poor housing quality, crowding, proximity to work and education, and the hauora impacts of insecure or inadequate housing. MĀPIHI responds to these challenges by building research capacity, supporting sectoral change, and strengthening pathways between research, communities, and decision-makers.
 
MĀPIHI is currently refreshing its strategic priorities for 2026–2028. This work builds from our existing Whakahā work programmes — Whenua, Hanga, Kāinga, and Hauora — and is being developed through three emerging priority ara (pathways): 

Te Kāinga Āhuarangi | Housing, Infrastructure and Climate Futures

Climate adaptation, Māori and Pacific resilience, place-based resilience, environmental change, and regional partnerships.

Te Kāinga Hauora | Housing and Wellbeing

Intergenerational housing, hauora and community wellbeing, ageing and inclusive environments, and social housing pathways.

Te Kāinga Auaha | Housing Innovation and Systems

Materials and prefab, AI and digital systems, construction innovation, and scalable housing solutions.
 
Across these ara, MĀPIHI’s value-add is Māori and Pacific / Indigenous-centred housing research. We are focused on unlocking Māori and Pacific participation in housing systems, strengthening evidence for policy and investment, and developing research partnerships that support durable, place-based and scalable housing outcomes. This profile will be updated as MĀPIHI’s 2026–2028 strategy is further developed. 

Homepage: Māori and Pacific Housing Research Centre