Te Ngira: Institute for Population Research
Te Ngira: Institute for Population Research is Aotearoa’s only dedicated population research centre. Our name was inspired by a well-known tongikura (proverbial sayings made famous by Māori monarchs) from the first Māori King, Pootatau Te Wherowhero:
Kotahi te kōwhao o te ngira e kuhuna
ai te miro ma, te miro pango, te miro whero
There is but one eye of a needle,
through which white, black and red cotton are threaded
These words capture our team’s commitment to undertaking excellent and transformative population research that draws on multiple knowledges, disciplines and methodologies.
Our research is widely used by decision-makers in Te Ao Māori, government agencies, communities, and the private sector to help inform choices and responses to the demographic, social and economic interactions that are shaping Aotearoa’s future. Te Ngira also offers a unique research-led major in population studies and graduate degrees in population studies and demography. Our graduates are highly sought after for academic, Iwi, government and NGO research and leadership roles in Aotearoa and internationally.
Te Ngira researchers are internationally and locally recognised and work across the four inter-connected themes below:
Te Ngira in the News
Prof Tahu Kukutai, Dr Jesse Whitehead and Ass Prof Polly Atatoa Carr on 'How does filling out the census form help researchers to gain a better picture of Aotearoa. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC2303/S00010/census-day-is-coming-up-so-how-does-filling-out-a-form-help-researchers-gain-a-better-picture-of-aotearoa.htm
Professor Tahu Kukutai discusses potential implications for the 2023 census with RNZ. https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018877874/census-2023-getting-the-count-right
Professor Tahu Kukutai in Newsroom, illegal surveillance of Maori children, 25 October 2022
Featured Publications
Population Diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand: Insights from the CaDDANZ research programme
Geoff Stone, Francis L. Collins, Angelique Praat, Jessica Terruhn, Robin Peace
Ngā Kete Mātauranga: Māori scholars at the research interface (edited by Jacinta Ruru and Linda Waimarie Nikora)
Chapter by Professor Tahu Kukutai on Māori demography