He kupu mō mātou
About Us

“Ko koutou ki mua, ko mātou ki muri.”

“You and your achievements to the fore, us standing behind you.”

Ihi Research is a whānau Māori owned and operated research and evaluation company, passionate about telling the stories of the communities we serve. 

We believe that those who experience disparity are best positioned to identify solutions to the challenges they face. Consequently, we see our role as highlighting the power of localised decision-making, the strength of community solutions, and facilitating collaborative learning.

Ihi Research was established in 2013 and is a whānau business based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch.

Our projects are focussed on establishing relationships with the communities we work with, and developing partnerships underpinned by best practice engagement principles inherent in co-design.

Our Values

At Ihi Research, we believe in the power of whakawhanaungatanga—building strong, respectful relationships supporting knowledge creation.

Our approach is guided by the principles of:

  • Showing respect, generosity, and genuine care for those we work alongside

  • Fostering learning, discussion, challenge, and the sharing of knowledge

  • Integrity, credibility, high ethical standards to foster trust and reliability in findings.

  • Clarity of our processes, openness, reproducibility, allowing others to verify and build upon the findings

  • Guardianship and protection of data, intellectual property, resources and knowledge.

  • Actively involving community members, ensuring that research and evaluation is relevant, culturally appropriate, and benefits those it aims to serve.

  • Exercising leadership in research and evaluation and fostering self-determination for those we work for.