Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Indigenous research centre opens at Waikato

Updated at 9:34 pm on 28 October 2011

A new centre for indigenous research has opened at Waikato University.

Te Kotahi Research Institute is the culmination of two years of discussions led by Professor Linda Smith and an advisory body, Te Roopu Manukura, representing iwi in the university's catchment area.

Deputy director of the institute Maui Hudson says the aims are to promote innovation, well-being and inspiration and improve the contribution of university research to iwi development.

He says the centre will take an interdisciplinary approach by, for example, bringing together researchers from the science, management and education faculties to work on research that aligns with the interests of iwi.

Mr Hudson says a senior adviser, Professor Pou Temera, has created a whakatauki or motto for the new institute - "Koi te mata punenga, maiangi te mata puihoiho" ("Imagine the invisible, explore the potential and defy the impossible").

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