Marae are central hubs for whānau, hapū, and iwi across Aotearoa New Zealand. But beyond their cultural and social importance, PhD researcher Haukapuanui Vercoe (Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa, Raukawa, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāi Tahu) says marae often serve as frontline centres of civil defence during flooding, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural hazards.
His research brings together civil engineering, geospatial science, and Mātauranga Māori. By combining spatial analysis with kaupapa Māori methodologies, Vercoe has assessed the exposure of 835 marae to natural hazards and identified strategies to strengthen community resilience.