NEWS
What does a new President mean for biodiversity in Guatemala?
SUSTAIN Podcast: Guatemala is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for land and environmental activists, with a history of indigenous genocide linked to colonial land grabs, the Cold War and deadly coups. Dr Pauline Herbst speaks with Maya Q’eqchi’...
EXTREME WEATHER & OCEAN WARMING: Insights from Ngā Kōrero Webinar
New Zealand's marine life faces unprecedented challenges due to extreme weather and warming linked to climate change. Oceans around the world are warming and ecosystems are facing the consequences. More than 200 scientists from 19 countries tell us the Southern Ocean...
Human rights scholar wins top Royal Society award
Human rights and sustainability researcher Dr Maria Armoudian from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has won the Royal Society Te Apārangi Early Career Research Excellence Award for Social Sciences. Dr Maria Armoudian has won the Career Research Excellence...
Can planting more trees slow climate change?
Our experts say it won't be enough, and in some cases, it can make matters worse. With us are three experts from the University of Auckland. If you prefer to read than listen, enjoy Ngā Ara Whetū's latest podcast episode transcript below. Maria Armoudian: Hello and...
offset carbon emissions: plant more trees, is this the long-term solution?
Governments and others have advocated to offset carbon emissions by planting more trees, but is this really the long-term solution?
Is CO2 in control of our freshwater?
Left to right: Dr Adam Hartland introduced by JR Rowland, Ngā Ara Whetū Director and Deputy Dean, Faculty of Science We are about to find out: New Zealand will be first in the world to lead an extensive research study on how CO2 is changing the ecology of our...
Reimagining Our World: A Competition from Ngā Ara Whetū and The Big Q
Reimagining Our World | Redefining Success | Redefining Beauty What we value in society shapes our behaviour and influences our current and future world. Our aspirations, definitions, and incentives related to “success” and “beauty” affect our work, finances, and...
Sustain: What can be done about invasive species?
SUSTAIN is a podcast brought to you by Ngā Ara Whetū: Centre for Climate, Biodiversity, and Society. Invasive species are costing us billions of dollars, but what can be done about it? Maria Armoudian talks to ecological experts Jacqueline Beggs and Al Glen to...
The destruction in our country that we are not talking about in the campaigns
Red imported fire ant. Photo by Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CCO 1.0 Three weeks have passed since the world’s leading ecologists, the 140-country IPBES (Intergovernmental Panel Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) warned of one...
Climate and Housing Take Center Stage at Student Issues Election Debate
Amid the spirited debates at the Student Issues Election Debate one unifying thread emerged - a resounding commitment to bolstering New Zealand's climate resilience from major political parties in attendance. The livestreamed debate can be found by clicking...
An Investment in Climate Research from Ngā Ara Whetū
As global temperatures rise, ecosystems struggle to keep up and adapt. Weather patterns become increasingly erratic, and new research must be done to comprehend what these changes have on our forests. Ngā Ara Whetū has allocated $2,500 in funding to support George...
Elevate Your Research with SDGs Keywords: A Quick Guide for University of Auckland Academics
Embarking on academic research can be like setting sail across uncharted seas. But what if you had guiding stars that not only illuminated your path but also showcased your commitment to shaping a better world? Enter Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) keywords—a...

Project for Media in the Public Interest
Want to understand the world better? Get some context around some of the big questions? Have a fresh light shed on global issues and political debate?
The Project for Media in the Public Interest (PMPI) is a website connecting audiences to informed dialogue about science, economics, arts and politics. Academics from across disciplines at the University of Auckland, across America, Europe, Australia and other universities discuss their research on important topics via videos, podcasts, interviews, symposia and opinion pieces.
“We are aiming to elevate critical thinking, raise the level of public debate, and counter the trend towards soft news,” says the project’s founding director, political scientist Dr Maria Armoudian.

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Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland
Auckland 1010, Aotearoa New Zealand