[L-R] Professor Kim Pickering, Professor Waikaremoana Waitoki and Dr Dalour Beg.
The 糖心Vlog is celebrating the success of three academics recognised as this year鈥檚 Royal Society Fellows Te Ap膩rangi honours and with Rangap奴 Rangahau research funding respectively.
Professor Kim Pickering and Professor Waikaremoana Waitoki have been elected Ng膩 Ahurei a Te Ap膩rangi Fellows, which will see them join the Academy of Fellows of the Royal Society Te Ap膩rangi. The honour recognises researchers who are leaders in their fields.
Dr Dalour Beg, who is an Associate Professor in Te Kura Mata-Ao School of Engineering, has been awarded funding through the Rangap奴 Rangahau scheme, which supports research connected to the M膩ori economy and New Zealand鈥檚 science, innovation and technology system.
Ng膩 Ahurei a Te Ap膩rangi Fellows
from Te Kura Mata-Ao School of Engineering, is recognised as a global leader in sustainable materials engineering. Her work focuses on developing high-performance materials from bioderived, recyclable and biodegradable resources.
Her research has advanced the use of plant fibres and waste products as alternatives to traditional plastics, improving their strength, durability and environmental performance. These innovations are already being used in products such as boats, buildings and 3D printing materials.
Professor Pickering says it鈥檚 wonderful to receive such recognition from the Royal Society.
鈥淗ighlighting the importance of this will be invaluable to encouraging and accelerating uptake to improve societal sustainability to help leave the best world we can for future generations,鈥� Professor Pickering says.
(Ng膩ti Hako, Ng膩ti Mahanga), from Te Pua W膩nanga ki te Ao Faculty of M膩ori and Indigenous Studies, is recognised for her international leadership in Indigenous psychology and her work to decolonise health systems.
A clinical psychologist and a leader in Indigenous psychology, her work focuses on improving M膩ori wellbeing and making psychology more inclusive of M膩ori knowledge and perspectives.
Professor Waitoki was led to this work to address the decades-long lack of sustainable action to address systemic racism in psychology.
鈥淢膩tauranga M膩ori has immense potential to be an alternative to the dominance of mainstream psychology. Our combined efforts to work with, and for M膩ori, contributes to that potential,鈥� Professor Waitoki says.
Her research addresses the impacts of systemic racism and wider social factors 鈥� such as housing and employment 鈥� on health outcomes, while supporting more equitable and culturally grounded approaches.
Professor Pickering and Professor Waitoki will be formally inducted into the Academy of Fellows at a ceremony in Wellington in April.
Rangap奴 Rangahau research funding
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has also announced successful projects funded through its Rangap奴 Rangahau fund, including one led by
Dr Beg鈥檚 project focuses on developing scalable, eco-friendly mechanical processing techniques to transform harakeke into soft, high-quality textile fibres and yarns.
In partnership with Muka Innovations and iwi, the two-year project will create sustainable pathways for producing premium textiles from harakeke 鈥� unlocking new M膩ori-led economic opportunities while supporting sustainable cultivation and contemporary product development.
鈥淢y aim is to reduce the cost of muka (fibre of New Zealand flax) to as little as one-eighth of hand-extracted fibre 鈥� making this treasured harakeke taonga truly accessible and unlocking its full potential though genuine partnership,鈥� Dr Beg says.
An internationally recognised materials scientist with more than 20 years鈥� experience, Dr Beg鈥檚 work spans natural fibre composites, biodegradable plastics and biomaterials, combining fundamental science with practical, industry-ready applications.
This includes developing high-performance materials from New Zealand fibres blended with recycled plastics and paper, as well as creating biodegradable alternatives to fossil-based plastics.
Dr Beg has secured significant research funding both internationally and in New Zealand and currently leads a $1 million MBIE Smart Ideas project on cellulose-based foam to replace polystyrene.
The latest Rangap奴 Rangahau investment will see $5.95 million distributed across 17 projects, each receiving $350,000 over two years to support research that strengthens the M膩ori economy and benefits the environment.
