He Waka Tāngata
He Waka Tāngata is a forum of nine highly talented researchers who are among the emerging leaders in the social science community. MoRST has set up this group to foster leadership in the social sciences and to find new ways to increase the role and impact of social research in New Zealand.
This group builds on our successful Oxygen Group established in 2005 as a cross-science-sector initiative designed to better connect us with younger scientists.
Members
Members are at early to mid stages of their careers and come from a wide range of social research disciplines, including geography, economics, sociology, and psychology.
They work in diverse fields including education, health, environment and disaster management, and come from a range of social research institutions, including Crown Research Institutes, universities and independent research bodies.
- Dr Paul Hirini - Clinical Psychologist. Youth Forensic Service, Ngaa Ringa Awhina
- Dr Chrys Horn - Collaborative Learning Researcher, Landcare Research
- Associate Professor David Johnston - Joint Centre for Disaster Research, GNS Science/Massey University
- Dr Suzi Kerr - Director and Senior Fellow, Motu: Economic and Public Policy Research in New Zealand
- Dr Nick Lewis - School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, The University of Auckland
- Dr Ruth McManus - Sociology Lecturer, School of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Canterbury,
- Dr Lesley Patterson - Senior Lecturer, School of Sociology, Massey University, Wellington
- Dr Richard Shaw - Senior Lecturer, Politics Programme, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University, Palmerston North
- Dr Karen Vaughan - Senior Researcher, New Zealand Council for Educational Research
More information on group members and mentors on the biographies page
Mentors
Professor Richard Bedford
Professor Bedford is Director of the Building Research Capability in the Social Sciences (BRCSS) network, chair of the Social Policy Evaluation and Research (SPEaR) interdepartmental committee and head of the Population Studies Centre, University of Waikato.
Bryan Gould
Bryan Gould is a former British Member of Parliament and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Waikato.
More information on group members and mentors on the biographies page