Research and Reason

Associate Professor Ethan Cochrane led a team that discovered ancient rock walls and high mounds in dense jungle in the Falefa Valley on ʻUpolu Island in Sāmoa.   Combining archaeology, genetic study and environmental science, their research makes new connections between a dramatic population rise in Sāmoa about a thousand years ago, and the rise of chiefly system. Click here to read more about th...

With the 21st anniversary of the decriminalisation of sex work in New Zealand coming up, Dr Cheryl Ware from the School of Humanities discusses our history of sex workers.   Cheryl talks about her most recent project where she interviews sex workers and explores the experiences of women in the industry to tell their stories. Her book on the subject is due to be released in 2025.

Associate Professor Erin Griffey is recreating Renaissance beauty recipes with a team of scientists to analyse active ingredients and effectiveness. Erin talks about how she works through thousands of beautifying recipes from ancient Egyptian sources through to the 18th century. Her research also looks at the broader societal perception of ageing for women during the Renaissance period and how it...

Mareike Schmidt discusses different language teaching and learning methods, such as implementing podcasts as a tool for students to use and learn a new language.   She also suggests that by studying abroad, we could immerse in new languages and cultures, and thus learn more about ourselves.   Mareike is a Professional Teaching Fellow and the Study Abroad Adviser for German. If you're intereste...

Senior Lecturer Dr Chris Wilson and his team researched the online postings of the Christchurch terrorist, and discovered he had been posting anonymously about his plans four years before the attack.   Chris talks about how they combined different methods, such as linguistic characteristics, to comb through thousands of posts and identify the attacker.   He explains how, if we understand how such...

Professor Neal Curtis talks about how his academic career in comics started and how it led to collaborating with brain researchers and illustrators to raise awareness of brain tumours. Neal also discusses Batman as an example of sovereignty and how Wonder Woman's origin story is connected to the history of women's reproductive rights. *Neal mixed up the names of mother and daughter in Mars...

With the announcement of Newshub closing, Associate Professor Luke Goode discusses what this means for us and what the future of media could look like. 

With the US presidential election fast approaching, Associate Professor Jennifer Frost discusses the history of youth voting rights and how young people could make a difference.   Jennifer's book "Let Us Vote!" Youth Voting Rights and the 26th Amendment is available here:  https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/non-fiction/education-reference/literature/let-us-vote-1117795

Author, scholar and former Poet Laureate Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh discusses the origins of her award-winning children's book series Mophead. In this episode, she talks about the third instalment of the series, Wot Knot You Got? Mophead's Guide to Life. She explains how the idea of Mophead came about and how the books have resonated with children and adults alike. Selina’s new book is being...

Dr Rowan Light discusses how Anzac Day has transformed from a quiet veterans’ reunion in 1965 to a popular and deeply meaningful national event. 

Dr Rebecca Phillipps discusses a ground-breaking project using an AI programme to identify stones that have been modified by early humans to use as tools. Academics from archaeology and bioengineering have collaborated to train AI to recognise features of human-modified artefacts and speed up the classification process.

How do your views align with New Zealand’s political parties? Associate Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment discusses the relaunch of Vote Compass ahead of the election on 14 October. Used by almost half a million people during the last election, the online tool is backed by the Electoral Commission and delivered by the University of Auckland and Victoria University. She also talks about her new boo...

Associate Professor Alice Mills discusses the challenges ex-prisoners face when they are thrust back into the outside world with just $350 for rent. She highlights a lack of support and limited resources which often lead to unstable housing situations and former inmates returning to a life of crime. You can read the report in full here: Going Straight Home: Post-prison housing experiences and the...

Associate Professor Paula Morris discusses an upcoming anthology of contemporary Māori short stories; Wharerangi , a Māori literature hub; and the foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand Review of Books .     Find out more about the projects and websites Paula is involved with: Academy of New Zealand Literature Wharerangi, The Māori Literature Hub Hiwa: Contemporary Māori Short Stories) Auckland Univer...

John Middleton discusses the impact of climate change on low-lying atolls like Tokelau and the challenges they face in maintaining their language due to the possibility of forced migration.

Dr Carisa Showden shares insights from  Fierce Hope: Youth Activism in Aotearoa , a new book that explores the motivations and experiences of young activists in New Zealand.

Dr Tom Gregory discusses the weaponisation of civilian protection in conflicts like Afghanistan. He highlights the impact of shifting perspectives on civilian casualties, which came to be viewed more as a strategic setback than a humanitarian crisis by coalition forces.