The TRC aligns with the Te Ao Māori principles of Waipapa Taumata Rau, to positively impact Aotearoa New Zealand society and advance the necessary knowledge to enable equitable and improved well-being in transportation systems whilst respecting tikanga practices.

We have developed partnerships with Māori researchers and communities to ensure resources are assigned to enable research to be undertaken by Māori for Māori. We seek ways to co-create and co-design research that not only has improved outcomes, but that strengthens relationships by ensuring principles of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga are applied.

Our research team has established key relationships with Māori in urban rural communities as we have engaged with Māori organisations and Rūnanga in the Tamaki Makaurau and central to lower north island rohe.

Our team is experienced in working with Māori communities and ensuring value is gained not only from research project outcomes, but value is specifically gained for the Māori communities where the research is being undertaken.

The TRC takes a long-term research partnership approach with Māori researchers and communities based upon mutual respect and ensuring appropriate tikanga is followed. The TRC seeks on all projects to transfer data, skills, project coordination and management of positive outcomes for Māori.