My central research interests are in equity and justice. I approach them through an intersectional feminist lens, which is attentive to subjectivity, place and power. I'm curious about ethics, solidarities and how positive change can challenge injustice and discrimination to create more place-based and intercultural connection and equity.

I have published extensively about methodologies and methods as key means to democratise knowledge production, engage different worldviews, and recognise people as experts in their own lives. This work has focused primarily on theorising Participatory Action Research (PAR) and participatory development, participatory video, and creative methods like drawing, arpilleras and embodied movement. 

Most of my empirical research is cross- or intercultural and seeks to be decolonising. I've worked in partnership with Indigenous women and men in Bali, Indonesia, with some members of Te Iwi o Ngāti Hauiti in Aotearoa, and learnt from young activists across the Pacific challenging climate change. More recently I've collaborated with Hutt City Council to involve diverse residents in the co-design of new amenities in my home suburb, Naenae in ways that also reflect the cultural narrative of the area's history.

In addition since 2005, I've lead a number of collaborations with former refugees (primarily young people) living in Aotearoa New Zealand in participatory research about their priorities for better resettlement outcomes. A key focus continues to be mobilising research to inform educational equity for refugee-background tertiary learners. I"m also working with the Afghan Learning Hub to understand their community-led approach to heritage language maintenance and place-based integration, and with colleagues in Applied Linguistics and Information Management, we're exploring the residence decisions of Ukraine Special Visa holders.

Key interests therefore include: Refugee resettlement, place, forced migration, participatory action research, appreciative inquiry, visual, textile and creative methods, anti-colonial and decolonising approaches, community development, climate change adaptation, former refugees, Māori, gender, youth, Aotearoa, Indonesia, Oceania.