Research with Waikato
The University of Waikato has internationally recognised research capabilities and facilities across a numerous disciplines and strive to deliver pioneering research and transfer that knowledge into industry and government sectors. We have established research partnerships with industry, government, education, and business, and we are keen to develop new research partnerships in a range of research fields and applications.
For external organisations interested in hosting a summer research scholar, expressions of interest open in May/June each year. Submit a project proposal online (applications close 11.59pm, Sunday 7 July 2020).
Key research sectors

Āmiomio Aotearoa is a transdisciplinary research collaboration hosted by the University of Waikato. Āmiomio Aotearoa is a novel economic concept that is cyclical in nature and regenerative by design, keeping products, components and materials at their highest value at all times. Built on Mātauranga Māori and western science, the concept aims to move beyond the current linear extract-produce-use-dispose material and energy flow model of the modern economic system, which is unsustainable.
Leaders
Āmiomio Aotearoa is led by Professors Kim Pickering and Trevor Drage. The leadership team also includes Professors Les Oxley (Waikato), Conan Fee (Canterbury), Michael Walmsley (Waikato), Barry Barton (Waikato), Richard Haverkamp (Massey), and Jonathan Boston (VUW), Dr Ben Anderson (Otago), Dr Leandro Bolzoni (Waikato), A/Prof Sara Walton (Otago), Dr Florian Graichen (SCION), and Robert Joseph (Waikato).
More information
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)

The Time-Evolving Data Science / Artificial Intelligence for Advanced Open Environmental Science (TAIAO) project is a collaboration between the Universities of Waikato, Auckland and Canterbury, Beca and MetService, and includes world-leading data scientists, data engineers and environmental scientists. This seven-year programme is funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE).
Leaders
At Waikato, TAIAO is led by Professors Albert Bifet, Karin Bryan, Bernhard Pfahringer and Eibe Frank.
More information
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Environmental Research Institute (ERI)
Te Waiora, Joint Institute for Freshwater Management (NIWA and University of Waikato)
Centre for Environmental, Resources and Energy Law: Te Pūtahi o te Ture Taiāo (CEREL)
International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research (ICTAR)
Lake Ecosystem Restoration New Zealand (LERNZ)
Coastal Marine Group (CMG)
Thermophile and Microbial Biochemistry and Biotechnology Unit (TRU)
Waikato Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory
Waikato Stable Isotope Unit (WSIU)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Dr John Tyrrell (email, or see John's profile)
Exemplars
Toxic in Crowds: The triggers of toxin production in planktonic cyanobacteria, funded by the Marsden Fund; Principal Investigator: Prof David Hamilton
New Zealand Terrestrial Antarctic Biocomplexity Survey (nzTABS); Lead researcher: Prof Craig Cary
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Institutes & Centres
Te Mata Punenga o Te Kotahi: Te Kotahi Research Institute
The Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre: Te Mata Hautū Taketake (MIGC)
Centre for Māori and Pacific Development Research (CMPDR)
Māori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email)
Exemplars
Te Mauria Whiritoi: The sky as a cultural resource – Māori astronomy, ritual and ecological knowledge, funded by the Marsden Fund; Principal Investigator: Dr Rangi Matamua
Tiakina Te Pā Harakeke, funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga; Principal Investigator: Leonie Pihama
Institutes & Centres
Wilf Malcolm Institute of Educational Research (WMIER)
Institute of Professional Learning – Te Whai Toi Tangata (IPL)
Centre for Global Studies in Education: Te Waiwhakaata ki te Ao Mātauranga (CGSE)
Early Years Research Centre
Educational Leadership Research Centre
The National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults: Tukua Kia Rere (NCLANA)
Technology, Environmental, Mathematics and Science Education Research Centre (TEMS Education Research Centre)
Engineering Education Research Unit (EERU)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Exemplars
Re-engineering an engineering course: How flipped classrooms afford transformative teaching, learning, and workplace competency, funded by the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI); Principal Investigators: Dr Mira Peter, Dr Elaine Khoo
Children visiting a museum: information gathering or creative capacity building?, funded by the Marsden Fund; Principal Investigator: Prof Margaret Carr
NZ Science Learning Hub & NZ Biotechnology Learning Hub, Directors: Prof Alister Jones and Prof Bronwen Cowie
Māori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU)
Traffic and Road Safety Research Group (TARS)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Institute for Security and Crime Science
National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis (NIDEA)
Canadian-New Zealand Studies Unit (CNZSU)
Historical Research Unit (HRU)
Māori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU)
Text and Translation Research Unit (TTRU)
Waikato Gender Research Network (WGRN)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Jenny Robertson (email, or see Jenny's profile)
Industrial Energy Efficiency
The goal of the Energy Research Centre is improved competitiveness for New Zealand industry through research aimed at achieving increased energy efficiency and conservation. We are seeking to work collaboratively with industry to measure, analyse and interpret energy usage profiles to identify and implement improved process and energy efficiency opportunities.
Energy Law
The Centre for Environmental, Resources and Energy Law (CEREL) draws on the most substantial concentration of academic expertise in New Zealand in environmental law, natural resources law, and energy law. CEREL offers highly-skilled capability in providing research, educational and advisory services and is looking to work with a range of end-users, including government agencies, international agencies, non-government organisations, corporations and their legal advisers, professional institutions and local agencies.
Institutes & Centres
Centre for Environmental, Resources and Energy Law: Te Pūtahi o te Ture Taiāo (CEREL)
Energy Research Centre
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Brian Cole (email, or see Brian's profile)
Exemplars
Increasing energy efficiency in our biggest industries, funded by MBIE; Project Leader: Prof Peter Kamp
Geothermal minerals laws clarified, part of the GNS-led project From Waste to Wealth, funded by MBIE
Carbon Capture & Storage law in New Zealand, funded by MBIE; Project Leader: Prof Barry Barton
Institutes & Centres
Waikato Centre for Advanced Materials (WaiCAM)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Brian Cole (email, or see Brian's profile)
Examples
Aduro Biolpolymers
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), Ligar
Institute for Security and Crime Science
Centre for Open Software Innovation (COSI)
Cyber Security Research Group (CROW)
WAND Network Research Group (WAND)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Brian Cole (email, or see Brian's profile)
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Tauranga: Shane Stuart (email, or see Shane's profile)
New Zealand Institute for Business Research
The Institute aims to add value to your business and offers a range of research, advisory and consultancy services to end-users, including commercial, public sector and not-for profit organisations. In May 2018, the newly restructured Institute and its three Research Units were successfully launched. The three research units are: the Responsible and Sustainable Management Management Unit, the Enterprise Innovation Unit, and the Leadership Unit.
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Mediarena Centre for Research
Audience Research Unit (ARU)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Jenny Robertson (email, or see Jenny's profile)
Institute for Security and Crime Science
Centre for Environmental, Resources and Energy Law: Te Pūtahi o te Ture Taiāo (CEREL)
The Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre: Te Mata Hautū Taketake (MIGC)
Research & Enterprise Contacts
Dr Simon Lovatt (email, or see Simon's profile)
Research capabilities
University of Waikato staff and students undertake internationally recognised research in both sector-based and multi-disciplinary fields.
- Research Institutes, Centres, Units and Groups
- University Research Capabilities by School: Arts, Psychology & Social Sciences; Computing & Mathematical Sciences; Education; Health; Law; Management; Māori & Indigenous Studies; Science & Engineering
- Research Outputs (Database of research publications and digital repository for scholarly outputs)
- Staff Research Areas (University of Waikato "Experts' File")
- See the University's press releases for the latest research (and other) news.
The University also provides specialist analytical and technical facilities.