Dr Te Kahautu Maxwell

Professor

Tēnā koutou, haere mai. Ko Te Kahautu Maxwell tōku ingoa. I am an Adjunct Professor at the Centre of Excellence “Designing Future Productive Landscapes”, at Lincoln University, and a Professor at Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao – the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato. Born and raised in Ōpōtiki, Aotearoa, New Zealand, in the eastern Bay of Plenty. I am of Te Whakatōhea. I maintain whakapapa ties to several iwi across the motu. My research is interdisciplinary and impact-driven, linking Indigenous knowledge with pressing contemporary issues to support the well-being, resilience, and sovereignty of Māori communities. I work collaboratively with iwi and hapū to advance locally grounded solutions. I foster partnerships with Western scientists to co-develop an integrated knowledge model that brings together Mātauranga Māori and Western science. These models aim to support culturally aligned and sustainable futures—particularly in the realms of environmental stewardship, food security, and climate adaptation. My research contributes to the transformation of research practice in Aotearoa, championing kaupapa Māori frameworks as vital to both academic excellence and community empowerment.