About Our Members

Unitec Institute of Technology

Unitec has a breadth of programmes representing a wide range of expertise spanning the social, health and natural sciences, education, creative industries, business, technologies and the built environment.

Specialist areas currently include: Cybersecurity; applied cyber research and development, Biosecurity, NZ biodiversity, invasive pests and animal behaviour;; Social Practice/Community Development – evaluation, surveying, project analysis; Environmental Solutions – plastics recovery and waste, indoor air quality, asbestos management and remediation; kaupapa Māori and indigenous research – urban marae development, language revitalisation, energy sovereignty.

gsteinhorn@unitec.ac.nz

0800 10 95 10

139 Carrington Road, Mount Albert, Auckland 1025

Manukau Institute of Technology

Applied research is one of the key academic activities at MIT. We have more than 100 experienced researchers specialising in digital technologies, professional engineering, social work, education, business, health and counselling, nursing, sport and exercise science, maritime and logistics and supply chain. They work in multi-disciplinary research teams to actively pursue external partnership opportunities with other institutes, universities, local organisations and communities to introduce new ideas, innovative solutions, sustainable processes, improved practices and enhanced health and wellbeing. Our research priority areas are: 

  • Orientation to the disrupted future of work 
  • Dedication to diversity and inclusiveness 
  • Commitment to Māori aspirations and Te Tiriti o Waitangi 
  • Commitment to Pasifika aspirations 
  • Commitment to Whānau, communities and workplaces 
  • Focus on sustainability, safety and wellbeing 
  • Promote scholarship of learning and teaching.  

 Some examples of our specialist expertise include: our engineering teams are currently modelling AI-driven sustainable energies; our digital technologies team is designing IoT and analytics-driven health and safe transportation prototypes; our business team is conducting feasibility study of rest home care facilities; our nursing team is experimenting augmented reality and virtual reality in nursing education; our maritime school are recognised globally for maritime consultancy, port modelling and simulator training and development; our education team is renowned for their work in early childhood education, and our social work teams are engaging with the local Maori and Pasifika communities for deeper understanding of issues related to health and wellbeing.  

For more information, you may visit our research website: www.manukau.ac.nz/about/research-and-publications or contact MIT Research Office at research@manukau.ac.nz 

Waikato Institute of Technology

Wintec has researchers covering areas ranging from Rangahau, Ranga’au, Media Arts, Business, IT and Enterprise, Education, Applied Linguistics, Health and Social Practice, Engineering and Industrial Design, Science and Primary Industries, and Sport and Human Performance. We also have dedicated innovation capabilities in design thinking and transdisciplinary research approaches.

 jonathon.ryan@wintec.ac.nz

shelley.wilson@wintec.ac.nz

0800 294 6832

106 Tristram Street, Hamilton West, Hamilton 3204

Whitireia Community Polytechnic and Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec)

Whāia te Ao Marama: Whitireia and WelTec work collaboratively to build a culture that celebrates and recognises research and innovation. 

Whitieria and WelTec are committed to research that has direct benefits for industry, teaching and learning, community, and mana whenua partners – Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Āti Awa. Our rangahau, research and creative activities are generally in health, social services, creativity, information technology, business, engineering, and built environment. We also foster rangahau and research in Māori and Pacific paradigms. 

Whitieria and WelTec have established strategic and research links with mana whenua, Pacific communities, industry, and governmental agencies. We have a dedicated research and innovation team that offers all-encompassing assistance to our researchers and leads the development of research policies and strategies. 

Ara Institute of Canterbury

There are seven academic departments actively engaged in research at Ara:

·         Health Practice

·         Applied Sciences and Social Practice

·         Creative Industries

·         Engineering and Architectural Studies

·         Business and Digital Technologies

·         Hospitality and Service Industries

·         Humanities

Research enhances teaching and learning at Ara Institute of Canterbury, and strengthens our connections with industry and the community. Our researchers make a difference in their disciplines, in their teaching, in the local community, nationally and internationally. Our projects involve international collaborations as well as engaging closer to home, including directly working with local industries and communities. In partnership with iwi-Māori, we identify, prioritise and operationalise Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in Ara Rangahau–Research. Our Research Office also leads research and development activity and consultancy via the ‘Research Hub @ Ara’ initiative in collaboration with Te Ōhaka – Ara’s Centre for Growth and Innovation. This provides a strong connection between industry, the innovation start-up ecosystem and the research and development expertise within Ara. The Research Hub pairs industry partners with research or project needs to student talent and staff expertise. Key areas of strength include ICT, Engineering, Laboratory Science, and Health and Wellbeing.

ResearchOffice@ara.ac.nz

130 Madras Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011

Otago Polytechnic

Otago Polytechnic is engaged with communities, including not-for-profits, professional, business and industry groups, regionally and nationally in an extensive range of farsighted and customer-focused innovative projects.

We subsidise our academic staff to undertake relevant research through our internal research investment funding. Their research informs curriculum design and teaching and learning.

Our students are encouraged and supported to become creative, innovative and enterprising through highly experiential learning activities, solving real world problems for external NZ-wide partners. Our EPIC (Experiment Production Innovation Construction) facility is available to support students in this.

We have expertise in Design, Culinary Arts, Engineering, Health, Sports Performance, and Sustainable solutions. We deliver education and mentoring directly into the workforce, through a wide variety of business education and development projects, including through Capable NZ and microcredentials. Otago Polytechnic is part of the TANZ network, delivering online courses across NZ and beyond.

Please contact us to discuss your research needs. Read more about our research here.

The Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki

The Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) or Te Kura Matatini o Taranaki, is a government-funded tertiary institute providing education to people within the region and from around the world.  As the local hub of learning, WITT is here to serve Taranaki. Our role is to cater to the needs of learners, to play our part in addressing national skills shortages, to keep talented people in the region, and to provide our key industries and local businesses the skilled workforce that they need. From degrees and diplomas to apprenticeships and short courses, WITT delivers industry-relevant training to people at all stages of the learning journey. Through provision of education, we respond to the needs of industry and align with the regional development priorities outlined in the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap and Tapuae Roa. Our industry-experienced tutors are focussed on providing learners with hands-on, practical education that often involves work placements, industry projects and internships. We pride ourselves on our comprehensive and inclusive support services, and our learners benefit from a low student-to-tutor ratio. WITT has an increasing range of blended delivery, part-time and professional development courses available to those who need flexible study options. Learners leave WITT as work-ready graduates, equipped with industry-relevant qualifications, networks, and skills that will enable them to contribute to the needs of our community and businesses. We’re committed to ensuring learners are not only equipped with the skills and knowledge required to get the job they want, but they’re supported to gain the kind of real-life experience that’ll set them up for success.

researchoffice@witt.ac.nz

0800 948 896

20 Bell Street, Private Bag 2030, New Plymouth 4342

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology is a high-quality government owned tertiary education provider which is based at the top of the South Island in New Zealand.

For over 100 years, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology has been providing high-quality tertiary education for students just like you. Our internationally talented staff are entirely dedicated to giving you the real world skills and a recognised qualification to embark on the career you deserve.

I know you’ll find that future right here, at NMIT.

info@nmit.ac.nz

ResearchAdmin@nmit.ac.nz

0800 422 733

322 Hardy Street, Nelson 7010

The Eastern Institute of Technology

The Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) offers over 130 qualifications from certificate and diploma, to degree and postgraduate level at campuses in Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and Auckland. EIT is a vibrant, innovative and research-led tertiary education institute. Research emphasis is placed upon collaborations with Hawke’s Bay industry and organisations and with colleagues in other tertiary institutions. Our research is community-centred with a focus on creating real outcomes with tangible benefits for our communities.

We support our degree-level academic staff to undertake relevant research through our internal research investment funding. Their research informs curriculum design and teaching and learning and generates high-quality outputs.

Our current specialist areas are: entrepreneurism and innovation, innovative learning environments, Māori visual arts, creative practice, cloud security, evaluation of social service programmes and interventions, community development, wine science and technology, primary health care evaluation, patient-based choices for dialysis, sudden unexpected infant death and safe sleeping, evaluation/mixed methods/qualitative research, sports training programmes, programme evaluation and physiological/performance testing, biomechanical analysis, outdoor education and recreation, high speed video analysis, and qualitative movement analysis.

We look forward to hearing from you to discuss your research needs. To find out more, visit our website here

RIC_admin@eit.ac.nz

+64 6 974 8000

501 Gloucester Street Taradale, Napier 4112 Hawke’s Bay

Universal College of Learning

Research and knowledge transfer at UCOL make important contributions to educational outcomes for our students, community and stakeholders. By sharing the outcomes of our teams’ research findings, we increase understanding and knowledge. For the first time in the institutions history UCOL made submissions to the Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) assessment process across a broad range of disciplines – Including creative & performing arts, education, health, and sciences. The PBRF process has created a ‘point in time’ view of work underway at UCOL, and facilitated planning for the next round of PBRF, due in 2024. In 2019 we undertook an audit of our degree research provision, which showed that we are progressing well in all these programmes. This work is now ingrained into our degree teaching and will continue to develop as we embrace the value this can bring to our local stakeholders and students. Our audit looked at the number of registered research projects, the number of staff in each degree involved in research, and the number of staff intending to submit to the next PBRF. Knowledge Transfer (the sharing of knowledge that isn’t strictly research) is also an important contribution to the knowledge of our staff, students and stakeholders.

To find out more, visit our website here

info@ucol.ac.nz

 

NorthTec

NorthTec has active researchers in the following disciplines:

  • Environment and conservation science
  • Social services
  • Nursing
  • Applied Management
  • Sports science
  • Arts and Maori Arts
  • Creative writing
  • Te Reo

In addition, it has applied programs from many trades from construction to beekeeping and pest control with active staff and students who are keen to be involved as contributors to other research projects. We are particularly keen to partner with Iwi, community and business in research which imp[acts the people and communities of Northland. We currently have research collaborations with Northland Regional Council, Unitec, and the Department of Conservation.

jstansfield@Northtec.ac.nz

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

Toi Ohomai’s Research Office administers research funds, provides assistance and quality assurance for external grant proposals and manages the institute’s participation in the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF). The Kaihautū Rangahau Māori is available to lead the development of rangahau and can aid with research projects involving Māori. In addition to offering services to staff and students of Toi Ohomai, the Research Office administers a Research Voucher Scheme that enables external industry organisations, iwi and community groups to obtain assistance with research. Toi Ohomai staff have some amazing expertise across a wide range of disciplines and subject areas and we’re always looking for new partnerships with businesses, industries or community groups. Contact us to talk through your research ideas. We’re eager to establish research partnerships or engage in collaborative research within the Bay of Plenty region and nationally.  The Research Office produces regular research publications.

research@toiohomai.ac.nz

Southern Institute of Technology

The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) has a strong commitment to research that engages local industry and community. Our staff have expertise in diverse fields including Environmental Management, Nursing, Sport and Exercise, Therapeutic Massage, Business, Information Technology, and Engineering, and among the creative industries staff are especially active in Music, Audio, and Screen Arts. Appropriately for a vocational institute, many staff also engage in research that informs the teaching and learning process. Internal funding supports staff to engage in research projects, and collaboration beyond SIT is encouraged. Our annual research events include Whiria Te Tangata, the staff research retreat, and the OPSITARA Symposium in collaboration with Otago Polytechnic and Ara. SIT publishes its own open access journal, the Southern Institute of Technology Journal of Applied Research (SITJAR) which is focused on disseminating research related to vocational education and training.

Email: researchoffice@sit.ac.nz

Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

Open Polytechnic | Kuratini Tuwhera is a specialist distance education provider offering over 100 qualifications and around 1,000 courses from levels 1 to 7.

Our research is applied and/or focussed on real-world problems and underpins our degree programmes. We also investigate open and distance learning (ODL) paradigms to support our delivery and the ODL discipline. We have collaborative research relationships with other polytechnics, as well as industry, stakeholders, universities and professional organisations. Research supports teaching as well as curriculum design and development.

We provide internal funding to assist staff to conduct research, including incentive grants given for published outputs which can be used for conference attendance and professional development. We have a strong focus on mentoring and supporting new and emerging researchers as individuals and through professional development courses.

Examples of recent research projects include resilient food systems, work stress of primary school teachers, working from home during COVID-19, impact of COVID-19 on local dairies, early childhood curriculum innovation, local government and heritage information, as well as those exploring the many aspects of students’ online learning and engagement.

Students in some higher level courses have the opportunity to develop and conduct small research projects under the direct supervision of academic staff.

researchoffice@openpolytechnic.ac.nz

Phone: 0508 650 200

3 Cleary St, Lower Hutt 5040