The inaugural recipient of the Maanu Paul Scholarship has written a doctoral thesis that shows how mātauranga Māori and scientific methods can work together to strengthen kaitiakitanga, restore kina populations and improve the long-term health of the moana.

Maanu Paul Scholarship recipient Te Amohaere Ngata-Aerengamate (Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Rarotonga–Aitutaki/Mangaia) has completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Māori Studies on kina sovereignty.

Ngata-Aerengamate’s thesis, Kina Tell You My Story? An Autoethnography of a Māori and Pacific Woman Navigating Science Education in Aotearoa explores kina sovereignty for whānau, hapū and iwi on the East Coast, while also documenting her experience as a Māori and Pacific woman navigating science education in Aotearoa and affirming the authority of Indigenous knowledge within research.

Te Puna Ora Matua Group, which manages the scholarship, congratulated Ngata-Aerengamate and said it was thrilled to celebrate this accomplishment with her.

Board chair Fiona Wiremu said the achievement was a proud milestone for Ngata-Aerengamate, her whānau and coastal iwi, and demonstrated the value of investing in Māori doctoral research that created knowledge and directly benefitted their people.

“Te Amohaere is an exceptional researcher whose courage, intellectual rigour and commitment to her people are evident throughout her work.

“Her research responds directly to the aspirations of whānau, hapū and iwi to protect and restore kina, strengthen kai sovereignty and ensure mātauranga Māori informs decisions about the future of our moana,” said Wiremu.

The study also offers practical benefits for coastal communities by supporting tikanga-based harvesting, stock monitoring, marine restoration and locally led decisions about customary access and food security. It also provides useful direction for researchers, regulators and the seafood sector seeking meaningful partnerships with mana whenua.

The Maanu Paul Scholarship was established in memory of former Te Puna Ora o Mataatua board member Maanu Paul ONZM, JP. The scholarship honours his leadership in tikanga Māori, kai sovereignty, kai security and community wellbeing.

Te Puna Ora Group and Te Kāhui Huraina i te Ao fund the scholarship to the value of $50,000 to support doctoral research completed within a 12-month period, including final-year tuition, resources and the presentation of research relating to kai security, moana, whenua or rongoā.

Ngata-Aerengamate will graduate with her doctorate degree from Te Herenga Waka|University of Victoria in Wellington in December.