Heni Unwin & Te Rerekohu Tuterangiwhiu
Heni Unwin and Te Rerekohu Tuterangiwhiu are both kairangahau researchers at Cawthron Institute who are passionate about bringing te reo o ngā hapū and a wider Te Ao Māori perspective to change the way we interact with our natural environment.
Heni (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Atihaunui-a-Papaarangi) is a research scientist at Cawthron Institute focusing on aquaculture and developing technologies for aquaculture farms. Her role is to help integrate mātauranga Māori into pūtaiao science projects.
Heni is also focused on microplastics and emerging contaminents. She is currently undergoing a Master's degree at the University of Canterbury looking at the effects of microplastics on mussels. One of her projects at Cawthron has involved launching a plastic tracking tool.
Te Rerekohu (Ngāpuhi, Taranaki, Ngāti Ranginui, Tainui) is a mātauranga Māori researcher in the Māori development team at Cawthron Institute. His projects range from kaimoana aquaculture, to aquatic animal health, biosecurity and seafood security.
Both Te Rerekohu and Heni are determined to change the way we think about 'managing nature'. As they say, nature can manage itself, but it is up to us to think about how we manage ourselves in te taiao.
They believe rangahau research is a powerful mechanism of acquisition and exchange that enables us to interact in a respectful way with te taiao that surrounds us.
Through their mahi, they bring te ao Māori perspectives and values - reclaiming spaces of cultivation and aquaculture, enabling Māori to explore and develop infrastructure for what aquaculture could look like in the future.
They both aim to create spaces where mātauranga can live and breathe. As Te Rerekohu says, his projects are about 'bringing mātauranga Māori out of the shadows and into the light of the now'.