I am interested in research that finds links between practice and academia. Following Participatory Action Research methods, I foster change in the physical environment through partnerships with communities and organisations, using my teaching to facilitate participatory projects. 

Once university courses are over, informed by students' designs and community feedback,I develop consensus-based, collective designs. Consensus designs for large projects inform urban planning, political decisions, and gradual urban change. Instead, the consensus designs for small-scale projects are developed into construction documentation and implemented. I am particularly interested in analysing the impact of those participatory processes and projects in order to gather knowledge that could be applied to future projects. 

I am currently conducting research on: participation for transformation; participatory design; plant sociality and performance of planting designs; environmental stewardship; design and management of Harakeke Pā (gardens); cultural landscapes; and soil and landscape memory.