Richard Griffiths received a Bachelor of Science in physics from Victoria University, a postgraduate diploma in environmental science from Canterbury University, and a Master of Science in ecology from Lincoln University, New Zealand. Between 1997 and 2011 he worked for the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC), leading species recovery, island restoration, island biosecurity and pest control, and eradication programs. 

He was a member of DOC’s Island Eradication Advisory Group and was the leader of the Stitchbird Recovery Group between 2000 and 2007—leading the species successful reintroduction to the New Zealand mainland after a 120-year absence. He was also extensively involved in the re-establishment of seabird populations on islands and was part of the team that confirmed the reappearance of the New Zealand Storm Petrel previously considered extinct. In addition, Richard has led notable island restoration projects, including removing rats from Little Barrier Island and removing eight invasive species from Rangitoto and Motutapu islands in New Zealand. As a result of the Rangitoto and Motutapu project, Richard and DOC won the Parks Forum Environmental Award in 2010. The project’s innovative approach also earned Richard a position as a finalist for the 2010 Kenton Miller Award. Richard works for Island Conservation based in New Zealand. He leads a team of project managers and island restoration specialists whose focus is preventing extinctions. In his time at Island Conservation, he and his team have successfully removed invasive species from more than twelve islands, resulting in significant benefits to plants and wildlife.

University of Auckland Maori Studies lecturer Dr Daniel Hikuroa, talks about the concerning ecological state of the Hauraki Gulf and what can be done about it.

Dr Hikuroa has a Bachelor of Science in Geology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Science, and a PhD in Geology.

His research addresses fundamental foundations and applications of knowledge, particularly concerning integrating mātauranga Māori and science. He explores the similarities and differences between indigenous knowledge and science, the underpinning ontologies (ways of being), and the epistemologies (ways of knowing).

His research includes how concepts of mauri contribute to ideas about “life”, kinship as practical ontology, how indigenous concepts can be integrated with techno-scientific rationales to imagine new futures for our rivers and waterways, and Māori concepts of time, space and the “universe”.

Dr Hikuroa is a Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga and Te Pūnaha Matatini Principal Investigator and was Research Director for Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand’s Māori National Centre of Research Excellence, from 2011 to 2015.

He has undertaken many projects, including co-writing the 2014 State of the Hauraki Gulf Environment Report, geothermal developments, planning river and catchment restorations, co-writing iwi environmental management plans, and industrial waste rehabilitation. Dr Hikuroa is a member of Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao, Statutory Advisory Committee to the Environmental Authority, Watercare Environmental Advisory Group, a hapū representative member on both the Waitomo Caves Management Committee and Waitomo Caves Environmental Advisory Group, and an independent scientific advisor for various hapū, iwi and ahu whenua groups.

He brings both a Maori worldview and a scientific approach to the research centre in our exploration into the origins of the universe, life and ultimate reality.