Meet our research students

Hear from students who are part of our vibrant research community, get a taste of their exciting research and find out why the University was their No 1 choice.

Hine Funaki is currently completing a Master of Arts in Education thesis

A place to belong

Hine Funaki explored views of the future for young Māori and Pacific people for her Master of Arts in Education thesis.

International Law PhD candidate Nathan Ross

Climate change and Pacific nationhood

International Law PhD candidate Nathan Ross is exploring what cultural rights Pacific ‘climate change migrants’ will have in a new country.

Biotechnology PhD candidate Luke Stevenson

Salvation in the soil

Biotechnology PhD candidate Luke Stevenson is digging to discover new antibiotics from the bacteria in New Zealand soil.

Psychology PhD candidate Emma Tennent

Better supporting victims

Phone calls to Victim Support are analysed by Psychology PhD candidate Emma Tennent to identify patterns that could help it improve its service.

Landscape Architecture PhD candidate Amin Rastandeh

Safeguarding wildlife through landscape design

Landscape Architecture PhD candidate Amin Rastandeh looks at whether urban green spaces can help safeguard indigenous wildlife against climate change.

Alexandre Sawczuk da Silva is an Engineering PhD candidate

Improving web service composition

Alexandre Sawczuk da Silva is an Engineering PhD candidate using evolutionary computation to find better ways to build programs.

Human Resources PhD candidate Esme Franken

Examining public sector resilience

The often-changing public service can be a challenging place for workers—Human Resources PhD candidate Esme Franken looks at how to create resilience.

Adam Osbourne-Smith, Master of Arts in Political Science student

Dream of the dragon

Master of Arts in Political Science student Adam Osborne-Smith is sifting the truth from the spin in Chinese state media.

Nursing PhD candidate Ellaine Ete-Rasch

Better health for Pacific kids

Nursing PhD candidate Ellaine Ete-Rasch is looking to find out what’s going wrong in health services for Pacific children.

Tim Smith, Master of Arts students

Examining Roman elections

Tim Smith’s Master of Arts research confirms our modern political systems owe a lot to events that occurred in Roman times.