Jordan (Ngāti Raukawa) is in the final year of her Doctoral studies (PhD in Veterinary Science) and has spent her funding to support wānanga and research regarding tikanga of working with stranded tohorā.

Jordan has been exploring the interface of mātauranga māori and Western science and the tikanga of handling genomic material and generated data from taonga species. Jordan has been able to participate in stranding events, from the preparation phases and protocol design to practical involvement at a stranding, to iwi informed decision-making around next steps and utilising modern science to support further understanding of whakapapa tohorā and their ecology.

Following the hand-in of Jordan’s thesis and on further reflection next year, she hopes to continue her research.