Rāwinia Wikaira is of Māori descent, with whakapapa (ancestry) to the tribes Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi, and Muriwhenua. She is a recent graduate from University of Otago (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka), where she completed a Bachelor of Arts and Science majoring in Māori Studies and Ecology. Her work interests sit at the intersection of environmental science, Indigenous knowledge, and community engagement. She has aspirations to work for her tribes and produce research that is informed by Indigenous and tribe-specific knowledge systems. She has experience in, and enjoys working at, a grassroots level with whānau Māori and small communities to tackle local ecological issues. Every summer, Rāwinia spends time at her papakāinga (ancestral coastal home) at Pākiri Beach (within the tribal territory of Ngāti Wai), where her love for nature first grew and continues to be fostered. Outside of work, you will find Rāwinia hiking, diving, and spending time in the awa (water).
