About

Role within Māori Impact: Grace holds an MSc in Environmental Science, a BSc in Chemistry, and a BA in Te Reo Māori. She is a kaipūtaiao / scientist in the Māori Impact Team, working across a number of kaupapa within the He Wai Māpuna programme. Her mahi spans lab, field, and community-based work, focused on delivering quality science led by mātauranga Māori that provides clear outcomes for partner communities. Grace’s work also extends into outreach, where she collaborates with her team to create opportunities for rangatahi Māori interested in STEM. Why is she passionate to work in this space: Grace is passionate about the complex relationship between the environment and human health. Te Ao Māori recognises the intrinsic connection between people and the environment through whakapapa. This connection fuels her dedication to carrying out Kaupapa Māori-led science that delivers health outcomes through this perspective. She is committed to ensuring Māori knowledge is embedded in the science and research she contributes to, allowing these initiatives to directly benefit Māori communities. How her mahi contributes to the collective impact for Māori: Through her mahi, Grace plays an essential role in advancing research that aligns with Māori aspirations. Her most recent project involved surveying the presence of microplastics in Te Awarua o Porirua, with the aim of mapping this data against health outcomes to understand how plastics affect the mauri of the harbour and its people. This work, initiated by iwi members, is part of a larger research effort focused on environmental health markers in the harbour. Grace’s commitment to kaupapa Māori-led science ensures that Māori perspectives are at the heart of environmental research and that her work contributes to meaningful, positive outcomes for Māori communities.