Ngā Tāngata

David Tipene-Leach (Ngāti Kahungunu) is a driving force behind Te Kura i Awarua, championing community research and its potential for real change in Aotearoa. He emphasises the importance of building Māori and Indigenous research capacity, particularly among the younger generation, and aligning research with community values, guiding us towards a more equitable future.

Annemarie Gillies (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Arawa) is a passionate advocate for the relevance of Rangahau Māori to “our people.” She underscores the importance of collaborative research with Māori communities, co-designing projects that uplift and enable. Her dedication drives our mission to bridge traditional knowledge with contemporary research for positive, community-centred outcomes.

Chantelle Magon (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngā Pōtiki) is the Rangahau Māori Centre Operations Lead at Te Kura i Awarua. She plays a key role in overseeing operations, financial and contract management, reporting, and project pipeline development to support the Centre’s research goals.

Tomomi Bowcock (Te Aitanga a Hapanihi) is the Communications Coordinator at Te Kura i Awarua. Known for her versatility, she supports a wide range of activities, including event coordination, marketing, graphic design, and project management. Her adaptability and expertise ensure our research is effectively communicated and integrated into the wider community.

Chris Bryant-Toi (Ngāti Porou) oversees the preservation and management of taonga, or archival material and artefacts, held within the care of Te Kura i Awarua. The application of taonga to develop collaborative new rangahau research outcomes excites Chris, as a practising contemporary Māori artist, educator, curator, and advocate.

Erina Bryant-Toi (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Te Whānau a Apanui) is our Te Reo Māori Advocate, dedicated to fostering and promoting the Māori language. Her work ensures the preservation of linguistic heritage and cultural identity within our iwi and hapū. She plays a pivotal role in integrating Te Reo Māori throughout our projects.

Sharron Aroha Fabish (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāti Maniapoto) is an educator passionate about equitable outcomes for Māori through education. She is currently working on her doctoral research, Hauora: a Ngāti Kahungunu perspective, which she hopes to have completed by the end of 2025.