Blue Carbon Futures in Aotearoa New Zealand

  University of Canterbury

Law

 Elizabeth is a Professor of Law at the University of Canterbury and leader of the Blue Carbon Futures research programme. She researchers comparative environmental, natural resources, and constitutional law, and has led numerous interdisciplinary teams working on the design and implementation of marine and freshwater legal and policy frameworks. Elizabeth has over twenty years legal and policy experience advising Indigenous peoples and governments. 

 Ngāi Tahu Research Centre
Indigenous development

Professor John Reid is a researcher at the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre whose work integrates te ao Māori, systems thinking, and sustainability and interdisciplinary science. His research focuses on environmental governance, regenerative land water management, Māori economic development, and emerging technologies, including AI, remote sensing, and environmental digital twins. He collaborates with iwi, industry, government, and researchers to address complex sustainability challenges.

Tidal Research

Ecology

Richard is a marine ecologist and Director of Tidal Research, with more than 15 years’ experience in benthic ecology, ecosystem functioning, blue carbon, and coastal management. He leads national research programmes on blue carbon, cumulative effects, and ecosystem restoration, and works closely with iwi, government agencies, and communities to support evidence-based management of Aotearoa New Zealand’s marine and estuarine environments.

University of Auckland

Geography and governance

Karen is a Professor of Human Geography at the University of Auckland whose research focuses on freshwater and marine socio-ecological systems, environmental governance, and sustainable development. Her work explores the relationships between people, place, and ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous knowledge, co-governance, and environmental justice. Karen has led interdisciplinary research programmes that support innovative approaches to managing freshwater and marine environments in Aotearoa New Zealand.

University of Canterbury

Law

Rachael is a qualifed environmental lawyer, and a PhD researcher at the University of Canterbury.  Rachael's research focuses on environmental, natural resources and planning law with particular interest in marine and coastal governance. Rachael contributes to interdisciplinary and comparative research, exploring the intersection of law, policy, Indigenous rights, and environmental management in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.

University of Canterbury

PhD Researcher: Law and Society

Claire is a doctoral researcher in the Faculty of Law at the University of Canterbury and a member of the Blue Carbon Futures research programme. Her research examines Indigenous authority, customary marine tenure, and blue carbon initiatives across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Claire brings extensive policy, advocacy, and research experience working with governments, NGOs, and Indigenous communities, with interests in legal pluralism, climate justice, and decolonising environmental policy.

University of Canterbury

Postdoctoral Fellow

Julia holds a PhD in Legal Geography from the University of Canterbury. She also holds an LL.M. in International Legal Studies from American University Washington College of Law and a Law Degree from the Benemerita Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas. Her research interests include comparative law, particularly in the fields of environmental law and policy, Indigenous rights, and human rights.

University of California

Visiting Scholar

 Molly is an MSc candidate in the Coastal Science & Policy Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is researching permitting pathways to scale up coastal wetland restoration. Molly holds a B.A. in Communications, Law, Economics, & Government from American University and a MSc in Environmental Policy & Regulation from the London School of Economics.