Ngā Tangata Taumata Rau Series: Ngā Tamariki o Te Kohu

This research project marks a historic milestone as the first research programme at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi to receive support from the highly competitive Marsden Fund.

The project examines reo-a-Tūhoe as a living knowledge system embedded within culture, everyday life, relationships and the environment. The research team will analyse 400 hours of archival audiovisual footage, exploring language, dialect, pronunciation, narrative, gesture, cultural expression and Tūhoe ways of living.

The project is led by an accomplished research team comprising documentary filmmaker and academic researcher Dr Reuben Collier CNZM CRSNZ, award-winning broadcaster Dr Julian Wilcox, veteran news editor Peata Melbourne, and leading Māori scholar Dr Shonelle Wana.

A significant outcome of the research will be the development of a new Māori-led framework for gathering and analysing audiovisual language data. Grounded in Indigenous values, the framework will support the research, protection and revitalisation of Māori and Indigenous languages in Aotearoa and internationally.

This research is supported by the Marsden Fund, administered by Royal Te Apārangi

 

Collaborators

Dr Reuben Collier CNZM CRSNZ - Primary Investigator
Dr Julian Wilcox - Research Assistant
Dr Shonelle Wana - Research Assistant
Peata Melbourne - Research Assistant

 

Additional links and publications

Marsden Fund Highlights:

https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/funds-and-opportunities/marsden/awarded-grants/marsden-fund-highlights/2024-marsden-fund-highlights/nga-korero-tawhito-a-review-of-traditional-language-expression

Series Promo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY5nbc9I-rw 

Series Highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/@Ng%C4%81T%C4%81ngataTaumataRau/playlists 

Pou Aronui Medal:

https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/medals-and-awards/research-honours/2025-rha/2025-pou-aronui-medal

Dr Reuben Collier

Dr Reuben Collier CNZM, CRSNZ

Marsden research team

Marsden research team

Royal Marsden Fund logo

This research is supported by the Marsden Fund, administered by Royal Te Apārangi

Whakapā mai/Contact us

Research and Innovation
Research and Innovation Team