I am a Pacific feminist development geographer of Cook Island, Niuean and Pakeha descent. I joined the staff in Pacific Studies, Te Wānanga o Waipapa (Maori Studies and Pacific Studies), Faculty of Arts in 2021 after 19 years in Development Studies. My current research projects focus on climate mobility in the Pacific; research methodologies from the Pacific; maternities, menstruation and embodiment in the Pacific; Pacific labour mobility. My research is informed by critical Pacific epistemologies but I have also served on various research assessment panels spanning the full range of science research including the Prime Ministers Chief Science prize from 2020-2024). Since 2025 I have been involved in the International Science Council advancing gender and science, and social science.

- Member International Science Council (ISC)  Steering Group for the Social Science Matters Programme. 2025-

- Member of the Expert Panel for the Advancing Gender Equality in Scientific Organizations project, jointly led by the International Science Council (ISC), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES). 2025-26
- Pacific Pou, Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga, Maori Centre for Research Excellence 2022-24.

- Member, Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Independent Strategic Panel for National Research Priorities, Appointed by Minister for Research Science and Innovation. 2023

- Deputy Moderator Pacific, Tertiary Education Commission Performance Based Research Fund 2022-23

- Member, Independent Research Organisation Capability Fund Panel, Health Research Council 2022

- Member, Performance Based Review Fund (PBRF) Sector Reference Group, 2021-2023

- Member, Prime Ministers Chief Science Prize Panel. 2021-2024
- Member,  Performance Based Review Fund (PBRF)  Review Committee, appointed by NZ Minister of Tertiary Education Commission 2019-20 

- Member, Performance Based Review Fund (PBRF) Sector Reference Group, 2021-2023
- Member, Pacific Gender Research Portal Reference Group, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University 2020-
- Chair Marsden Social Science Fast Start Panel 2018
- Co-Chair Advisory Research Group, Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development 2017-19
- Director, New Zealand Institute for Pacific Research, 2017-2018
- Deputy Chair, Inaugural Pacific PBRF Panel, 2016-2018
- Member, Marsden Social Science Panel, 2016-2018
- Member International Geography Union, Gender and Geography Commission 2016-2020
- Fulbright Campus Advisor (Maori/Pacific Advisor), 2014-2022

Director, Development Studies, (2008-14);
Research Fellow, Department of Human Geography, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University (2002-03);
Expert, Rural Development, Food Security and the Environment, The Secretariat of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Brussels (2001-02);
Independent Scholar, Apia, Samoa and Bonn, Germany (1997-2001);
Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Papua New Guinea (1990-96).

Distinctions/Honours:

FRSNZ, Fellow Royal Society Te Aparangi, indicted 2026

FPAS, Fellow Pacific Academy of Sciences, inducted 2026

DNZG, Distinguished Geographer, New Zealand Geographical Society, 2025
MNZM, Member of New Zealand Order of Merit, for Tertiary Education and Pacific Development, 2024
Metge Medal for Research Excellence in Social Sciences, Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apāiranga 2022
Pacific Island Visiting Fellowship, Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge 2018
Māori and Pasifika Scholarship to attend the New Zealand Women in Leadership Programme, Funded by Universities, New Zealand, 2012
Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, City University of New York Graduate Centre, New York, USA, 2010/11
World University Network (WUN) Award, offered by University of Washington, Seattle, USA, 2010
Association of Pacific Rim Universities Fellowship (APRU), University of Santa Cruz, USA, and University of Osaka, Japan, 2004

Responsibilities:
- Phd Advisor, Pacific Studies 2021-

- Co-Head of School (acting), Te Wānanga o Waipapa, Faculty of Arts 2022-2023, 2024-25
- Associate Dean, International, Faculty of Arts 2021-2022

Committee/Professional groups/Services:
- Co-Chair Board Oxfam in the Pacific, 2023-
- Member Inaugural Board Oxfam in the Pacific 2021-23
- Co-Chair, Pacific Feminist Fund, 2024-
- Member Inaugrual Board Pacific Feminist Fund, 2023-2024
- Member PBRF Review Committee, TEC 2019-2020
- Editorial Collective: Women's Studies Journal 2018-2020
- Co-Chair Oxfam NZ 2015-18, Board member from 2009
- Editorial Board: Development 2002-
- Member of New Zealand Geographical Association, Population Association of New Zealand 1999
- Regional Co-ordinator, DAWN (Development Alternatives for Women in a New Era) Pacific 1999–2008
- Member, UN-Habitat Partner University Steering Group from 2009
- Co-Coordinator (with Professor Dory Reeves) UN-Habitat World Urban Forum 5 Working Group from 2009
- Member, Steering Committee on, Te Whare Kura, 2009-2014
- Member, University of Auckland Transnational Pacific Health Group (HRC Funded) 2008-2012
- Member, Board of Graduate Studies, Centre for Pacific Studies, The University of Auckland
- Mentor, Women in Leadership Programme, The University of Auckland, since 2007
- Equity Liaison, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland, 2015
- Deputy Chair Pacific Research Panel, PBRF 2015-2018
- Member Marsden Social Sciences Panel, 2015-2018
- Member, Steering Committee, IGU Gender and Geography Commission 2016-

Qualifications:
BA, BA(Hons) (VUW), PGDip, MA (Hawaii), PhD (Waikato)

Areas of Expertise:
Gender and development, critical population geographies, feminist political ecology, Pacific development, progressive social movements, gender and science

Media Keywords:
Development and gender, Political ecology, Enculturating economic processes, Gender and development, Pacific development, Critical population geography, Progressive social movements