This research project explores how design, technology, and mātauranga Māori can be brought together to support resilience in environments exposed to frequent and diverse natural hazards.
Aligned with Professor Anthony Hōete’s Ngāti Awa Atlas of Marae Resilience, the work builds on a platform that integrates mātauranga Māori with GIS-based hazard and climate data to support marae in understanding, preparing for, and responding to natural hazards. While grounded in the Ngāti Awa context, the research considers how these approaches can inform resilience planning for Māori and other communities across Aotearoa.
Using a design research approach, the project developed content for and helped shape the Atlas along with a series of complementary initiatives, including the development of a marae numbering system, a data-rich digital platform, and exploratory use of extended reality to support immersive storytelling and community engagement. Together, these elements demonstrate how design and emerging technologies can translate complex hazard information into accessible, culturally aligned tools.
Ethical and cultural considerations underpin all aspects of the work, particularly in relation to tikanga and Māori data sovereignty. Ensuring data is managed, represented, and shared in ways that uphold Māori values has been a central principle throughout the research.
If you’d like to read more about the project, you can find the full paper here:
Weaving Tikanga and Technology: Pathways to Natural Hazard Resilience
The research was completed in 2025 as part of my Master of Design, and I graduated later that year with First Class Honours.