Director, Te Pūnaha Matatini Centre of Research Excellence in Complex Systems
Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina
Seek out distant horizons, and cherish those you attain
Research background
Priscilla is a conservation biologist whose research has two main research themes: first, ecological knowledge; evolutionary ecology, and especially foraging behaviour, including isotope and nutrient analyses of diet; and secondly, socioecological relationships, including cultural environmental management.
She frequently works on human-nature relationships, including biocultural diversity and past, present and future Indigenous environmental relationships. She also works on introduced species that challenge native ecosystems, insect ecology and behaviour, in particular the sexually dimorphic New Zealand tree wētā genus Hemideina spp.
She explores the relationship between conservation biology and mātauranga from her lived experience in extended whānau communities of Waikato, Ngāpuhi nui tonu and Tūhoe while also drawing from her roots as a New Zealand woman with Scottish clan origins. Current work includes building an inter-disciplinary team to explore Māori philosophical frameworks in relation to Antarctica in her role as Leader of the Vision Mātauranga programme in research exploring the effectiveness of the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area.
Priscilla supports cultural change and builds inclusivity in science to create broad platforms for intellectual advancement. In 2020 she received an Inspirational Alumna Award from the School of biological Sciences, University of Canterbury.
Indigenous ecological knowledge, introduced species and the new New Zealand environment (Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, Royal Society of New Zealand)
Kaitiakitanga and Antarctic narratives (Marsden Fund)
Wehi PM, van Uitregt V, Scott N, Gillies T, Beckwith J, Rodgers RP & Watene K. (in review). Transforming Antarctic policy and management with an Indigenous Māori lens.
Wehi PM, Brownstein G & Morgan-Richards M 2020. Indigenous plant naming and experimentation reveal a plant-insect relationship in New Zealand forests. Conservation Science and Practice e282.
Wehi PM, Cox MP, Roa T & Whaanga H 2018. Human perceptions revealed by linguistic analysis of Māori oral traditions. Human Ecology 2018: 1–10.
Wehi PM 2009. Indigenous ancestral sayings contribute to modern conservation partnerships: examples using Phormium tenax. Ecological Applications 19:267–275
Publications
Farnworth, B., Purdie, S., Wehi, P. M., & Painting, C. J. (2023). Exaggerated mandibles are correlated with enhanced foraging efficacy in male Auckland tree wētā. Biology Letters, 19(11), 20230207. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0207
Journal - Research Article
Reihana, K. R., Wehi, P. M., Pomare-Pieta, M., Harcourt, N., Ellis, J. I., & Murray, J. M. (2023). Indigitization: Technology as a mode for conservation sustainability and knowledge transfer in indigenous New Zealand communities. Biological Conservation, 285, 110237. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110237
Journal - Research Article
Thompson, L., Doogan, H., Thompson, C., Wehi, P., & Johnson, S. (2023). Are there differences in behaviour between the two colour morphs of the mountain stone wētā, Hemideina maori? New Zealand Journal of Zoology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/03014223.2023.2249408
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Kamelamela, K. L., Whyte, K., Watene, K., & Reo, N. (2023). Contribution of Indigenous Peoples' understandings and relational frameworks to invasive alien species management. People & Nature, 10508. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/pan3.10508
Journal - Research Other
Rayne, A., Arahanga-Doyle, H., Cox, B., Cox, M. P., Febria, C. M., Galla, S. J., … Wehi, P. M., & Steeves, T. E. (2023). Collective action is needed to build a more just science system. Nature Human Behaviour. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41562-023-01635-4
Journal - Research Other
Kelly, M., Wehi, P. M., & Johnson, S. L. (2023). Behavioural differences in predator aware and predator naïve Wellington tree wētā, Hemideina crassidens. Current Research in Insect Science, 3, 100058. doi: 10.1016/j.cris.2023.100058
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Cox, M. P., Whaanga, H., & Roa, T. (2023). Tradition and change: Celebrating food systems resilience at two Indigenous Māori community events. Ecology & Society, 28(1), 19. doi: 10.5751/ES-13786-280119
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Rogers, K. M., Jowett, T., & Sabadel, A. J. M. (2023). Interpreting past trophic ecology of a threatened alpine parrot, kea Nestor notabilis, from museum specimens. Journal of Animal Ecology, 92, 273-284. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13742
Journal - Research Article
Hann, M. G., Baltutis, K., Barefoot, N., Charmantier, A., Colucci, A., Durussel, C., … Wehi, P. (2022). Togetherness for Antarcticness. In I. Kelman (Ed.), Antarcticness: Inspirations and imaginaries. (pp. 144-157). London, UK: UCL Press. doi: 10.14324/111.9781800081444
Chapter in Book - Research
Rayne, A., Blair, S., Dale, M., Flack, B., Hollows, J., Moraga, R., … Wehi, P. M., Wylie, M. J., & Steeves, T. E. (2022). Weaving place-based knowledge for culturally significant species in the age of genomics: Looking to the past to navigate the future. Evolutionary Applications, 15, 751-772. doi: 10.1111/eva.13367
Journal - Research Article
Van Uitregt, V., Sullivan, I., Watene, K., & Wehi, P. (2022). Negotiating greater Māori participation in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research, policy, and governance. Polar Journal, 12(1), 42-61. doi: 10.1080/2154896X.2022.2058222
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Scott, N. J., Beckwith, J., Rodgers, R. P., Gillies, T., Van Uitregt, V., & Watene, K. (2022). A short scan of Māori journeys to Antarctica [Short Communication]. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 52(5), 587-598. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1917633
Journal - Research Other
Wehi, P., Hetaraka, T. W., Robinson, F., Hetaraka, P., & York, J. (2021). Māori culture in Antarctica: Preserving knowledge and Papatūānuku. In G. Foscari & UNLESS. (Eds.), Antarctic resolution. (pp. 536). Zurich, Switzerland: Lars Müller. [Contribution].
Chapter in Book - Research
Wehi, P., Whaanga, H., Watene, K., & Steeves, T. (2021). Mātauranga as knowledge, process and practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. In T. F. Thornton & S. A. Bhagwat (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of indigenous environmental knowledge. (pp. 186-197). London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315270845
Chapter in Book - Research
Hall, M. M., Wehi, P. M., Whaanga, H., Walker, E. T., Koia, J. H., & Wallace, K. J. (2021). Promoting social and environmental justice to support Indigenous partnerships in urban ecosystem restoration. Restoration Ecology, 29(1), e13305. doi: 10.1111/rec.13305
Journal - Research Article
Reihana, K. R., Wehi, P. M., Harcourt, N., Booth, P., Murray, J. M., & Pomare-Pieta, M. (2021). Indigenisation of conservation education in New Zealand. Pacific Conservation Biology, 27, 493-504. doi: 10.1071/PC20060
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., van Uitregt, V., Scott, N. J., Gillies, T., Beckwith, J., Rodgers, R. P., & Watene, K. (2021). Transforming Antarctic management and policy with an Indigenous Māori lens. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 5, 1055-1059. doi: 10.1038/s41559-021-01466-4
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Wilson, D. J., Stone, C., Ricardo, H., Jones, C., Jakob-Hoff, R., & Lyver, P. O. (2021). Managing for cultural harvest of a valued introduced species, the Pacific rat (Rattus exulans) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Pacific Conservation Biology, 27, 432-441. doi: 10.1071/PC20094
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P., Hetaraka, T. W., Hetaraka, P., York, J., & Robinson, F. (2021). Research within indigenous frameworks. Proceedings of the New Zealand Antarctic Science Conference: Connecting through change. (pp. 91). Retrieved from https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nzasc21
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wehi, P. (2021, January). Uplifting our tamariki in science: Research examples in chemistry and ecology. Verbal presentation at the Utaina! K ngā hua pūtaiao i te reo Māori, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wehi, P. (2021, July). It's a mystery: One story of science and navigation in the research system. Verbal presentation at the Association for Women in the Sciences (AWIS) Triennial Conference: Embracing Diversity, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Parli, A., Besson, A., Wehi, P., & Johnson, S. (2020). Sub-lethal exposure to a mammalian pesticide bait alters behaviour in an orthopteran. Journal of Insect Conservation, 24, 536-546. doi: 10.1007/s10841-020-00222-6
Journal - Research Article
Ricardo, H., Wilson, D. J., & Wehi, P. M. (2020). Kiore (Rattus exulans) distribution and relative abundance on a small highly modified island. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 47(4), 350-359. doi: 10.1080/03014223.2020.1785515
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Brownstein, G., & Morgan-Richards, M. (2020). Indigenous plant naming and experimentation reveal a plant-insect relationship in New Zealand forests. Conservation Science & Practice, 2, e282. doi: 10.1111/csp2.282
Journal - Research Article
Bond, M. O., Anderson, B. J., Henare, T. H. A., & Wehi, P. (2019). Effects of climatically shifting species distributions on biocultural relationships. People & Nature, 1, 87-102. doi: 10.1002/pan3.15
Journal - Research Article
Cisternas, J., Wehi, P. M., Haupokia, N., Hughes, F., Hughes, M., Germano, J. M., Longnecker, N., & Bishop, P. J. (2019). 'Get together, work together, write together': A novel framework for conservation of New Zealand frogs. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 43(3), 3392. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.43.32
Journal - Research Article
Walker, E. T., Wehi, P. M., Nelson, N. J., Beggs, J. R., & Whaanga, H. (2019). Kaitiakitanga, place and the urban restoration agenda. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 43(3), 3381. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.43.34
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Beggs, J. R., & Anderson, B. J. (2019). Leadership and diversity in the New Zealand Ecological Society. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 43(2), 3368. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.43.16
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Carter, L., Harawira, T. W., Fitzgerald, G., Lloyd, K., Whaanga, H., & MacLeod, C. J. (2019). Enhancing awareness and adoption of cultural values through use of Māori bird names in science communication and environmental reporting. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 43(3), 3387. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.43.35
Journal - Research Article
McAllister, T. G., Beggs, J. R., Ogilvie, S., Kirikiri, R., Black, A., & Wehi, P. M. (2019). Kua takoto te mānuka: Mātauranga Māori in New Zealand ecology. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 43(3), 3393. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.43.41
Journal - Research Other
Wehi, P. M., Beggs, J. R., & McAllister, T. G. (2019). Ka mua, ka muri: The inclusion of mātauranga Māori in New Zealand ecology. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 43(3), 3379. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.43.40
Journal - Research Other
Bioethics panel, including Ellis, L., Knight, J., Maclaurin, J., & Wehi, P. (2019). Predator free New Zealand: Social, cultural, and ethical challenges. Commissioned by BioHeritage Challenge. 26p. Retrieved from http://www.biologicalheritage.nz/
Commissioned Report for External Body
Dattner, F., Adams, S., Alexander, K., Cano, M., Clarke, K., Clarke, K., … Wehi, C. (2019). Mother nature needs her daughters: A Homeward Bound global review and fact sheet investigating gender inequality in STEMM. Sydney, Australia: Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University. 32p. doi: 10.26183/5d22d5fbe2349
Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report
Brown, M. B. G. J., Gemmill, C. E. C., Miller, S., & Wehi, P. M. (2018). Diet selectivity in a terrestrial forest invertebrate, the Auckland tree wētā, across three habitat zones. Ecology & Evolution, 8(5), 2495-2503. doi: 10.1002/ece3.3763
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Cox, M. P., Roa, T., & Whaanga, H. (2018). Human perceptions of megafaunal extinction events revealed by linguistic analysis of indigenous oral traditions. Human Ecology, 46(4), 461-470. doi: 10.1007/s10745-018-0004-0
Journal - Research Article
Whaanga, H., Wehi, P., Cox, M., Roa, T., & Kusabs, I. (2018). Māori oral traditions record and convey indigenous knowledge of marine and freshwater resources. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 52(4), 487-496. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2018.1488749
Journal - Research Article
Cisternas, J., Wehi, P. M., Germano, J. M., Bishop, P. J., & Longnecker, N. (2018). Key elements for communication and strengthening of the relationship: First steps to develop bicultural partnerships for amphibian conservation in New Zealand. Proceedings of the 15th International Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference. (pp. 143-144). Retrieved from https://pcst.co/conferences
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wehi, P., Rogers, K., & Sabadel, A. (2018). Tracking trophic shifts through time in a threatened parrot. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on the Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies (IsoEcol). KQ362QL, (pp. 112). Retrieved from https://www.isoecol.com/2018
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Yee, G., Ingram, T., & Wehi, P. (2018). The fight for coexistence: Niche partitioning between Chatham Island kiore (Rattus exulans) and ship rats (R. rattus). Proceedings of the New Zealand Ecological Society (NZES) Conference. Retrieved from https://newzealandecology.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Morgan, D. K. J., Clapperton, B. K., Gillanders, J. A., & Wehi, P. M. (2017). The palatability of undyed carrot surface-coated with repellents, or dyed blue or green to a terrestrial macroinvertebrate. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 44(3), 212-224. doi: 10.1080/03014223.2017.1289473
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., & Lord, J. M. (2017). Importance of including cultural practices in ecological restoration. Conservation Biology, 31(5), 1109-1118. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12915
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Monks, A., & Morgan-Richards, M. (2017). Male tree weta are attracted to cuticular scent cues but do not discriminate according to sex or among two closely related species. Ethology, 123, 825-834. doi: 10.1111/eth.12652
Journal - Research Article
Whaanga, H., & Wehi, P. (2017). Rāhui and conservation? Māori voices in the nineteenth century niupepa Māori [Short communication]. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 47(1), 100-106. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2016.1252408
Journal - Research Other
Brownstein, G., MacLeod, C. J., & Wehi, P. (2017). Preliminary exploration of the cultural and ecological history of seabird colonies along the north-eastern Otago coast. Commissioned by Landscape Connections Trust. Landcare Research: Manaaki Whenua. 51p.
Commissioned Report for External Body
MacLeod, C. J., Howard, S., Green, P., Gormley, A. M., Wehi, P., Brandt, A. J., & Spurr, E. B. (2017). State of New Zealand garden birds 2016: Te āhua o ngā manu o te kāri i Aotearoa. Lincoln, New Zealand: Landcare Research: Manaaki Whenua. 38p. Retrieved from https://gardenbirdsurvey.landcareresearch.co.nz
Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report
Jacob, S., Wehi, P., Clobert, J., Legrand, D., Schtickzelle, N., Huet, M., & Chaine, A. (2016). Cooperation-mediated plasticity in dispersal and colonization. Evolution, 70(10), 2336-2345. doi: 10.1111/evo.13028
Journal - Research Article
Whaanga, H., & Wehi, P. (2015). Te Wawao I Te Mātauranga Māori: Indigenous knowledge in a digital age: Issues and ethics of knowledge management and knowledge exchange in Aotearoa/New Zealand. In R. E. Rinehart, E. Emerald & R. Matamua (Eds.), Ethnographies in pan Pacific research: Tensions and positionings. (pp. 231-250). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315718927
Chapter in Book - Research
Wehi, P. M., Jorgensen, M., & Morgan, D. K. J. (2015). Predictors of relative abundance of tree weta (Hemideina thoracica) in an urban forest remnant. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 39(2), 280-285.
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. (2015, November). Biodiversity values reflected in reporting: Birds and Māori bird names. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Ecological Society (NZES) Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wehi, P. (2015). Agroecology and farm restoration: Informed by ecology and history. In M. Johnson & C. Perley (Eds.), He Ahuwhenua Taketake: Indigenous agroecology. (pp. 124-152). Commissioned by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. [Report Contribution].
Commissioned Report for External Body
Wehi, P., Anderson, B. J., & Haines, E. (2014). Participation in the Science Fair: A call for data. New Zealand Science Review, 71(4), 104-107.
Journal - Research Article
Timewell, E., Wehi, P., & Haines, E. (2014). Absolutely positively science [Guest editorial]. New Zealand Science Review, 71(3), 58. [Editorial].
Journal - Research Other
Wehi, P. M., Jorgensen, M., & Morgan-Richards, M. (2013). Sex- and season-dependent behaviour in a flightless insect, the Auckland tree weta (Hemideina thoracica). New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 37(1), 75-83.
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Raubenheimer, D., & Morgan-Richards, M. (2013). Tolerance for nutrient imbalance in an intermittently feeding herbivorous cricket, the Wellington tree weta. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e84641. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084641
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P., Cox, M., Roa, T., & Whaanga, H. (2013). Marine resources in Māori oral tradition: He kai moana, he kai mā te hinengaro. Journal of Marine & Island Cultures, 2(2), 59-68. doi: 10.1016/j.imic.2013.11.006
Journal - Research Article
Whaanga, H., Papa, W., Wehi, P., & Roa, T. (2013). The use of the Māori language in species nomenclature. Journal of Marine & Island Cultures, 2(2), 78-84. doi: 10.1016/j.imic.2013.11.007
Journal - Research Article
Hong, S.-K., Wehi, P., & Matsuda, H. (2013). Island biocultural diversity and traditional ecological knowledge. Journal of Marine & Island Cultures, 2(2), 57-58. doi: 10.1016/j.imic.2013.11.005
Journal - Research Other
Wehi, P., Mistral, M., Raubenheimer, D., & Morgan-Richards, M. (2013, January). Adaptive foraging in a giant alpine insect, the Otago stone weta. Verbal presentation at the VII Southern Connection Congress: Southern Lands and Southern Oceans: Life on the Edge? Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wehi, P. M., Whaanga, H., & Trewick, S. A. (2012). Artefacts, biology and bias in museum collection research. Molecular Ecology, 21, 3103-3109. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05589.x
Journal - Research Other
MacKay, D. B., Wehi, P. M., & Clarkson, B. D. (2011). Evaluating restoration success in urban forest plantings in Hamilton, New Zealand. Urban Habitats, 6. Retrieved from http://www.urbanhabitats.org
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Nakagawa, S., Trewick, S. A., & Morgan-Richards, M. (2011). Does predation result in adult sex ratio skew in a sexually dimorphic insect genus? Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 24(11), 2321-2328. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02366.x
Journal - Research Article
Griffin, M. J., Trewick, S. A., Wehi, P. M., & Morgan-Richards, M. (2011). Exploring the concept of niche convergence in a land without rodents: The case of weta as small mammals [Forum article]. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 35(3), 302-307.
Journal - Research Other
Wehi, P. M., & Hicks, B. J. (2010). Isotopic fractionation in a large herbivorous insect, the Auckland tree weta. Journal of Insect Physiology, 56, 1877-1882. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.08.005
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., & Wehi, W. L. (2010). Traditional plant harvesting in contemporary fragmented and urban landscapes. Conservation Biology, 24(2), 594-604. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01376.x
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M. (2009). Indigenous ancestral sayings contribute to modern conservation partnerships: Examples using Phormium tenax. Ecological Applications, 19(1), 267-275. doi: 10.1890/07-1693.1
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Whaanga, H., & Roa, T. (2009). Missing in translation: Maori language and oral tradition in scientific analyses of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) [Forum]. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 39(4), 201-204. doi: 10.1080/03014220909510580
Journal - Research Other
Clarkson, B. D., Wehi, P. M., & Brabyn, L. K. (2007). A spatial analysis of indigenous cover patterns and implications for ecological restoration in urban centres, New Zealand. Urban Ecosystems, 10, 441-457. doi: 10.1007/s11252-007-0035-6
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., & Clarkson, B. D. (2007). Biological flora of New Zealand 10: Phormium tenax, harakeke, New Zealand flax. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 45(4), 521-544. doi: 10.1080/00288250709509737
Journal - Research Other
Wehi, P. M. (2006). Kuta (Eleocharis sphacelata, Cyperaceae), a locally important and highly valued weaving plant. He Puna Korero, 7(2), 39-44.
Journal - Research Article
Wehi, P. M., Barrell, G. K., & Hickling, G. J. (2006). Hormonal correlates of social rank in an asocial species, the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Ethology, 112, 639-648. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2005.01185.x
Journal - Research Article
McAllum, P. M. (2005). Development and care of pā harakeke in 19th century New Zealand: Voices from the past. He Puna Korero, 6(1), 2-15.
Journal - Research Article