The AUT Vā Moana Research Centre engages Moananui thought to study notions of space. Formed in 2012 by Lealiʻifano Albert Refiti and Tina Engels-Schwarzpaul, and based at Auckland University of Technology’s School of Art and Design, Vā Moana has a far-reaching network of international scholars. Our research transforms ways of thinking about contemporary and customary Moananui understandings of the world, by examining Indigenous modes of producing space, objects, rituals, and performance. We develop new research in this area and promote discussion and publications from Moananui perspectives. We focus on how Moananui concepts affect the production of space and the use of the built environment, re-exploring and extending customary knowledge alongside academic discourse. Moananui people have always produced new and novel ways of understanding the world, based on and extending tradition.

Vā Moana has a strong focus on building intellectual communities and supporting emerging researchers to find their feet in the academy. We run a number of events and programmes which bring together our postgraduate students, international networks, and local Moananui communities. We are experienced in gaining external research grants, and have received two from the Marsden Fund, Royal Society Te Apārangi: Vā Moana: Space and Relationality in Pacific Thought and Identity (2019-2023); Artefacts of Relations: Building in Te Moananui (2022-2025).

The Research Centre is connected to the AUT Moanaroa Pacific Research Network and Te Ranga Tukutuku AUT Māori Research Network. It is led by Lealiʻifano Dr. Albert L. Refiti (Co-Director/Tūʻua) and Dr. Emily Parr (Co-Director/Taʻitaʻi Fono). Researchers within the School of Art & Design are invited to affiliate with Vā Moana.‍

Dr. Carl Douglas Senior Lecturer, School of Art & Design

‍Dr. Tina Engels-Schwarzpaul Professor, Vā Moana

Dr. Cecelia Faumuina Lecturer, Communication Design

Jenni Hohepa-Tupu Lecturer; Programme Director Bachelor and Diploma of Design

Cait Puatama Johnson Research Assistant, Vā Moana
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Dr. Emily O’Hara Senior Lecturer, Spatial & Interior Design

Dr. Emily Parr Postdoctoral Fellow, Vā Moana; Lecturer, Visual Arts

Dr. Rafik Patel Senior Lecturer/Head of Department, Spatial & Interior Design

Lealiʻifano Dr. Albert L. Refiti Professor, School of Art & Design

Dr. Natalie Robertson Associate Professor, Communication Design & Postgraduate

Zohreh K. M. Shirazi Lecturer, School of Art & Design; Doctoral Candidate

Jennifer Whitty Senior Lecturer, School of Art & Design

Jack Wu Lecturer, Spatial & Interior Design

Hana Pera Aoake (Doctoral Candidate). Supervisors: Monique Redmond & Natalie Robertson.

Terje Koloamatangi (Doctoral Candidate). Supervisors: Albert L. Refiti, Billie Lythberg & Tēvita Kaʻili.

Marina McCartney (Doctoral Candidate). Supervisors: Albert L. Refiti & Shuchi Kothari.

ʻUhila Nai (Doctoral Candidate). Supervisors: Monique Redmond & Nooroa Tapuni. Advisor: Albert L. Refiti.

Sia Ngata (Doctoral Candidate). Supervisors: Fiona Amundsen & Jyoti Kalyanji.

Nova Paul (Doctoral Candidate). Supervisors: Albert L. Refiti & Layne Waerea.

Raymond Sagapolutele (Doctoral Candidate). Supervisors: Albert L Refiti & Natalie Robertson.

Zahra Salarnia (Doctoral Candidate). Supervisors: Miriam Harris & Rafik Patel.

See more about previous postgraduate researchers and their theses here.

Researchers/investigators on our Marsden-funded projects:
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Dr. Brett Graham Artist

Rau Hoskins Director, designTRIBE; Chair, Toi Ngāpuhi

Dr. Lana Lopesi Assistant Professor, Department of Indigenous, Race & Ethnic Studies (University of Oregon)

Dr. Billie Lythberg Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business & Economics, Management & Intl Business (University of Auckland)

Prof. Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa Senior Professor, Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies (University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa)

Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu Prof. ʻŌkusitino Māhina – Professor of Tongan Philosophy, Historical Anthropology & Aesthetics (Vavaʻu Academy for Critical Inquiry & Applied Research)

Prof. Ty P. Kāwika Tengan Professor, Ethnic Studies & Anthropology (University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa)

Researchers within our community positioned in academic and professional environments in Aotearoa, Moananui, the USA, and Europe.
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Rameka Alexander-Tuʻinukuafe Pou Heke I Senior Architectural Designer, ŌRUA
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Sibyl Bloomfield Senior Lecturer, School of Future Environments (AUT)

Prof. Deirdre Brown Professor; Te Tumu, Faculty of Engineering & Design; Director, Centre for Māori and Pacific Housing Research (University of Auckland)

Dr. Jake Culbertson Design Anthropologist & Senior Associate, HGA

Prof. Vicente Diaz Professor, American Indian Studies (UCLA)

Dr. Azadeh Emadi Senior Lecturer, Theatre, Film & Television Studies (University of Glasgow)

Tagaloatele Prof. Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop Emeritus Professor, Pacific Studies (AUT)

Elisapeta Heta Principal – Kaihautū Whaihanga – Māori Design Leader, Jasmax

Prof. Robert Jahnke Professor, Māori Visual Arts (Massey University)

Prof. Ross Jenner Adjunct Professor, Architecture & Planning (University of Auckland)

Prof. Tevita O. Kaʻili Professor, Anthropology & Cultural Sustainability (Brigham Young University Hawaiʻi)

Marilyn Kohlhase Pacific arts and community consultant

Dr. Tau Lelaulu Lecturer, School of Future Environments (AUT)

Prof. Saʻiliemanu Lilomaiava-Doktor Professor, Hawaiian-Pacific Studies (University of Hawaiʻi, West Oʻahu)

Meleisea Leasiolagi Malama Meleisea Emeritus Professor, Samoan Studies (National University of Samoa)

Prof. Carl Mika Professor/HoS, Aotahi School of Māori & Indigenous Studies (University of Canterbury)

Dr. Fleur Palmer Associate Professor, School of Future Environments (AUT)

Assoc. Prof. Maibritt Pedersen Zari Associate Professor, School of Future Environments (AUT)

Lemi Ponifasio Director, MAU

Dr. Robert Pouwhare Professional Teaching Fellow, Faculty of Business & Economics (University of Auckland)

Prof. Sally Jane Norman Professor, School of Music (Victoria University of Wellington)

Dr. Maia Nuku Curator, Oceania (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Dr. Amiria Salmond Independent scholar

S. Ata Siulua Research Officer, Moanaroa (AUT); Doctoral candidate, Arts & Education (University of Auckland)

Dr. Valance Smith Kaihautu Tiriti – Tiriti Strategic Lead, Office of the Vice-Chancellor (AUT)

Dr. Layne Waerea Lecturer, Law School (AUT)

Assoc. Prof. Amanda Yates Associate Professor, School of Future Environments (AUT)

Prof. Matori Yamamoto Faculty of Economics (Hosei University)‍