Our collective purpose

The Moanaroa Pacific Research Network at Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is dedicated to realising Pacific research aspirations that centre Indigenous Pacific knowledge systems, research methodologies and practices shaped with and of direct benefit to Pacific communities in Aotearoa and across the wider Moana region.

Through collaboration on research development initiatives and research outputs/outcomes, professional development, public research events, workshops, and advocacy, Moanaroa contributes to the dynamic and crucial field of Pacific research, shaping an enduring legacy of AUT Pacific research for generations to come.

While we engage in mainstream research, we must also identify our own
Pacific research agendas drawing on Pacific epistemologies, pedagogies and methodologies.

– Tagaloatele Emeritus Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, CNZM

Guiding objectives

The Moanaroa Pacific Research Network will develop and implement a two-year strategic plan that will respond to and enact the guiding AUT frameworks of Te Aronui and Rautaki Rangahau.

The guiding objectives are:

Enable Pacific-led research

• Work to realise Pacific research that foregrounds, honours and incorporates Indigenous Pacific knowledges, methodologies and practices across the dynamic multiplicity of cultural expression/identity and research orientations
• Grow research led by Pacific individuals and communities, ensuring their direct involvement in the conception, implementation and dissemination of research projects
• Nurture relational communities of research practice that encourage innovation, transdisciplinary collaborations and the interrelatedness of Pacific Indigenous philosophies

Provide capacity-building opportunities for Pacific researchers

• Invest in the professional development of Pacific researchers, including postgraduate research students through mentorship programmes that are specific to Indigenous Pacific aspirations
• Provide opportunities for workshops and grant/funding to support Pacific-led research
• Strengthen AUT wide networks to enhance knowledge sharing and professional practice, and provide operational support

Cultivate culturally affirming collaborations, advocacy and partnerships

• Support collaborations that recognise the importance of valuing and centering Indigenous Pacific knowledges, perspectives, experiences and practices within AUT
• Enrich the collective understanding of the Pacific region's diverse cultures and diaspora Pacific communities globally, including Pacific histories and contemporary perspectives
• Advocate for reciprocal, respectful research partnerships that embody Pacific cultural values and ethical principles in research practice
• All Moanaroa collaborations prioritise Pacific research that is with, and beneficial for, Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond