Research underpins the credibility and effectiveness of strong educational organisations that Te Tauihu Aotearoa needs now and for the future.
We recognise that we need to be at the leading edge of our subject fields, teaching valuable research skills to our ākonga and disseminating knowledge to all of our stakeholders. Evidence based research allows us to continually improve all aspects of what we offer by constantly gathering evidence to determine what works, ensuring continual improvement.
Our research focus is to produce quality-assured, applied research and wherever possible collaborate with enterprise and our community to create economic and social impact. We ensure that we build the academic robustness and credibility of our research but retain our focus on what benefits our stakeholders.
Integrating research within our curriculum
Our degree courses include meaningful industry-focused research projects as an educational tool, which directly links our research efforts and our educational provision.
Research at Te Pūkenga NMIT is funded through internal investment, externally secured grants, contracts with industry, and from Performance-based Research Funding (PBRF) provided by the Tertiary Education Commission. The aim of PBRF is to encourage and reward excellent quality research in the tertiary education sector. NMIT participated in the 2018 PBRF round(external link), and will do so again as part of the wider Te Pūkenga network in 2026 with the benefits of both additional research funding and a quality target to strive for.
Developing staff research capabilities and research portfolio
Many of NMIT's academic staff spread across our programme areas are involved in conducting research. Research is integrated into all aspects of the degree tutor role including performance, career progression, development and recruitment.
Meet the Research and Innovation Office
The Research & Innovation Office aims to support all research at NMIT.
We support research staff by providing time, a working environment conducive to research and by offering opportunities for funding and the development of research skills.
The Research and Innovation Office’s aim is to advance and support research capabilities and collaborations to facilitate equitable action-based outcomes that Te Tauihu Aotearoa needs now and for the future.
Susannah has been Acting Manager of the Research Office in 2023 and is working to further embed the systems already established and support the Research Professors and Research Coordinator. The Innovation and Research office's aim has been to create a culture in which our academics can thrive, and as an Acting Manager, Susannah wants to maintain that.
Susannah started as a tutor at NMIT seven years ago, and has been responsible for a number of Academic Departments, including Research. She is also currently Curriculum Director.
As the Research Support coordinator at Te Pūkenga NMIT, Velma supports staff and tutors of degree programmes who have been allocated time to conduct research. She enjoys meeting and engaging with the academics and tutors and assisting however she can.
“I like learning about their specific research projects, seeing them start collaborations and improve their research skills,” Velma says.
She trained at Utrecht University, in the Netherlands while doing her PhD, as an academic and researcher in the multi-disciplinary field of logic, linguistics and computer science.
When she arrived in New Zealand, she accepted a coordinator role for quality assurance at Victoria University of Wellington.
“It was great working with academics in different disciplines and working alongside staff and management to improve teaching and learning practice.”
She then became self-employed, supporting older people and children with IT needs.
“My current role at Te Pūkenga NMIT is a great combination of my experiences, where my technical skills and people-oriented approach come together,” she says.
Velma takes an active role in the Te Tauihu community, partly thanks to her young daughter. She enjoys organising and participating in cultural events for the Dutch community and has set up a restoration group with her neighbours to enhance the esplanade and protect the native bush and wildlife along the Brook Stream (Te Waimārama).
Velma believes Te Pūkenga NMIT offers great opportunities and is looking forward to working on projects she is passionate about.
“I very much enjoy the collegiality here. My first days were so welcoming and everyone was happy to have a chat.”
NMIT Research Professors
Our highly qualified staff members and experienced research professors mentor and assist other kaimahi with research.
Kiri Hunter
Kia ora e te whānau,
Ko Ruahine tōku maunga
Ko Mākāretu tōku awa
Ko Takitimu, rāuā ko Tainui ōku waka
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu rātou ko Rangitāne,
ko Ngāti Maniapoto ōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Mārau rātou ko Ngāti Rora, ko Ngāti Apakura ōku hapū
Ko Rākautātahi rāuā ko Te Tokanganui-a-Noho ōku marae
No Heretaunga ahau
Ko Hunter te whānau
Ko Kiri tōku ingoa
In the professional space I have an extensive nursing background working across healthcare and educational settings and a vested interest in advancing Māori health and social wellbeing. Specialty teaching areas have included adult biophysical health, Kawa Whakaruruhau (cultural safety) and te Tiriti. Current PhD explores New Zealand Police responses to, and interactions with, Māori experiencing mental distress in South Auckland. I (mostly) enjoy writing and as a published researcher I have been privileged to share my research findings to-date: Kiri Hunter - ORCID page(external link)
Whilst chipping away on my thesis this year as a full-time student at AUT, I am also bicultural advisor and editor on a national nursing journal and reviewer of several international journals. I also undertake contract work for Nursing Council New Zealand as a panel chair for the accreditation and monitoring of nursing programmes around the motu.
In the personal space, I am mum to ‘darling’ Ruby and partner to Clive, I love waka paddling and walking the hills around Whakatū.
So delighted to be sharing your research journey’s this year
Mauri ora
Kiri
Kirsten Coppell
Associate Professor Kirsten Coppell is a specialist in public health medicine and has also trained and practised as a general practitioner in New Zealand and the UK. During her public health medicine training Kirsten became involved with diabetes quality of care improvement initiatives. She has undertaken diabetes and diabetes related research at Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research since it was established in 2003.
She has established the Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) network, a research group looking at dietary treatments and disease monitoring. In addition to research, Kirsten has contributed to national diabetes clinical guidelines. She is also a member of the National Diabetes Service Improvement Group, an executive member of the NZ Society for the Study of Diabetes, a steering committee member of the Gut Health Network, Health Research Council of NZ College of Experts member, and the NZ College of Public Health Medicine Training Programme Supervisor for the South Island.
Ellen Cieraad
As a quantitative ecologist, Ellen contributes to varied research projects in New Zealand and around the world, which are centered around the impacts of human activities on biodiversity, including the effects of climate change, pesticide use, and light pollution. She studies how to minimise the effects that these human impacts have on interactions between species, and the services that nature provides to people (such as pollination).
Born in the Netherlands, Ellen came to New Zealand while studying biology. She was a Technician and later Research Scientist at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, before becoming an Assistant Professor in ecology and Director of Education at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Recently, the lifestyle opportunities and natural environment in New Zealand have drawn her back.Read more about Ellen here.(external link)
Eric Buenz
Dr Eric Buenz completed his Doctorate in Biomedical Science at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, his Master of Business Administration at the University of St. Thomas, and his Master of Agriculture at the University of the South Pacific in Samoa. He is an expert in natural products, immunology, neurology, drug discovery and business development. He has secured United States Food and Drug Administration Investigational New Drug status for novel compounds and directed the associated clinical trials for these compounds at Mayo Clinic.
Dr Buenz has authored numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts, many in high-impact journals such as The British Medical Journal and Trends in Pharmacological Sciences; his work has also been covered in the popular press in publications such as The New York Times, The Economist, Wired, and The Scientist. He has a wide range of business management experience from successfully securing venture funding for start-up organisations, to serving on non-profit boards, advising governments and running departments of multinational firms.
Research at NMIT
Many of NMIT's academic staff are involved in conducting research. Most of the research at NMIT is focused on our degree and diploma programme areas. Key areas include: Aquaculture, Arts & Media, Business, Education, Environmental Ecology, Health & Fitness, Social Sciences, Technology, Tourism, Viticulture & Wine.
Our research tends to be more applied than theoretical, and tutors and students work on real-world projects to help disseminate information in the community where it can be useful. Our range of expertise in research is wide-ranging - everything from accounting to aquaculture. Our research connects with other institutions locally, nationally and internationally, contributing to developing evidence and guidance on global problems.
Research Ethics
From inception of any research project to dissemination of its results, considering ethical aspects is an active responsibility of researchers. This means that researchers must:
endeavour to maintain the safety of all human and animal participants in the project
consider the impact of their research and any published outputs, ensuring there will be no adverse ethical impacts on communities and groups
is in accordance with NMIT’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy and can contribute to needs and aspirations of Tangata Whenua of Te Tauihuto meaningful engagement and outcomes for Māori and researchers
All research at NMIT, whether undertaken by staff members, or by students as part of undergraduate, post-graduate courses, requires ethics approval.
The purpose of the Animal Ethics Committee is to consider ethical matters pertaining t o the manipulation of animals for research, testing, and teaching at Te Pūkenga/NMIT, as well as the manipulation of animal by parented organisations. (Read more in the CEC [PDF, 7.4 MB] for use of Animals in Research, Testing and Teaching)
Additionally, appropriate consultation with Māori for rangahau: research by Māori, about Māori (i.e. language, knowledge or persons), and/or for Māori. It ensures a thorough process that reflects NMIT’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy, upholds the needs and aspirations of Tangata Whenua of Te Tauihu and can contribute to meaningful engagement and outcomes for Māori and researchers.
We encourage you to get in contact to discuss how we may be able to assist with your research needs. There are many ways we can help - ranging from student projects to contract research. We can also assist with accessing government research funding. Please contact the Research Support Coordinator.
