<p style="text-align:center"><em><span style="font-size:12px">Gill Potaka-Osborne and Billy van Uitregt</span></em></p>

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<p>In early March, Whakauae Research Services extended an invitation to Dr Billy van Uitregt to visit our offices. Billy is a lecturer at the School of Geography, Environmental and Earth Science, Victoria University. Born and raised in Australia he completed a PhD in Evolutionary Ecology in 2012, a Graduate Certificate in International Relations (2017) and more recently in 2020, a Masters of Indigenous Studies (Distinction). Billy is interested in how M&#257;ori and Indigenous voices, worldviews and knowledges are represented in contemporary environmental science, policy and governance; the tensions this creates; and the social and environmental outcomes this achieves. Billy has whakapapa to Ng&#257; Rauru, Te &#256;tihaunui -a- P&#257;p&#257;rangi, Ngai Tuhoe and is Dutch on his Dad&rsquo;s side. He recently bought a house in Whanganui where he has reconnected with his Te Kura, Pirikahu and Te Huna wh&#257;nau and Whanganui&#39;s academic community. Billy is a regular addition to Whakauae daily coffee breaks.</p>

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