Jessica Hutchings

Jessica Hutchings is a New Zealand researcher, author, and Ashtanga Yoga teacher.[1] Hutchings' work is grounded in kaupapa Māori research (research informed by tikanga Māori ) within the subject areas of environmental and Indigenous studies.

Career

Hutchings completed a PhD in environmental studies and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Māori health research. She was the Director Māori, Tumu Whakarae of the Building Better Homes Towns and Cities National Science Challenge[2] from 2018–2021 leading a Māori research programme in the Challenge.[3] Hutchings is also a member of the MBIE Science Board.[4]

She cited the New Zealand COVID-19 lockdown as encouraging wider conversation and action around food sovereignty, saying "Since the Covid lockdown, it’s just been right at the forefront of everything… We’re right on conversations around what food security is, we’re beginning to have conversations as whanau Māori."[5]

Along with Victoria University associate Jo Smith (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha)[6] Hutchings founded Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust,[7] which focuses on food sovereignty education and research, and includes food growing initiatives such as Feed The Whānau.

Jessica Hutchings participated in the development and research for Hua Parakore, the organic food production verification system used by Te Waka Kai Ora (The Māori Organics Authority of Aotearoa, New Zealand) [8]

Recognition

• 2016 Māori Book Awards, Te Kōrero Pono - Non-Fiction Winner for Te Mahi Mara Hua Parakore: A Maori Food Sovereignty Handbook[9]

Personal life

From Ngāi Tahu, Gujarati, and Ngāti Huirapa descent, Hutchings' work primarily focuses on Māori food sovereignty and decolonization.[10]

Selected works

Publications

• Hutchings, Jessica (2015). Te mahi māra hua parakore : a Māori food sovereignty handbook. Ōtaki, Aotearoa New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-473-31653-2. OCLC 922882036.
• Decolonisation in Aotearoa : education, research and practice. Jessica Hutchings, Jenny Lee-Morgan, New Zealand Council for Educational Research. Wellington, New Zealand. 2016. ISBN 978-0-947509-44-6. OCLC 1003123668.[11]
• Te ahu o te reo Māori : reflecting on research to understand the well-being of te reo Māori. Vincent Olsen-Reeder, Rawinia Higgins, Jessica Hutchings. Wellington. 2017. ISBN 978-1-77656-174-2. OCLC 1018473046.
• Te Mahi Oneone Hua Parakore: A Māori soil sovereignty and wellbeing handbook. Jessica Hutchings, Jo Smith. Christchurch, New Zealand. 2020. ISBN 978-0-473-51619-2. OCLC 1162219778.[12]

Filmed Lectures and Documentaries

• Hua Parakore: A kaupapa Māori pathway for Maori soil and food sovereignty. Toi Tangata, 2021. New Zealand.
• Hua Parakore: Living Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Happen Films, 2021. New Zealand.

References

1. "Jessica Hutchings". Jessica Hutchings. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
2. "Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities | Ko ngā wā kāinga hei whakamāhorahora | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment". www.mbie.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
3. "Jessica Hutchings". Bridget Williams Books. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
4. "Lessons from Māori voices in NZ's science sector". Building Better. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
5. Murray, Justine (9 May 2021). "Soil sovereignty with Dr Jessica Hutchings". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
6. Smith, Jo. "Jo Smith". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
7. "PAPAWHAKARITORITO CHARITABLE TRUST". Open Corporates. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
8. "Carney G., Baker M., Greenskill A., Hutchings J., Skelton P. and Tipene P. Hua Parakore: An indigenous sovereignty initiative and hallmark of excellence for food and product production. Mai Journal, Vol. 1, Iss. 2".
9. "Ngā Kupu Ora Māori Book Awards". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
10. "Dr Jessica Hutchings". Jessicahutchings.org. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
11. Reviews:
    • Ormond, Adreanne (1 November 2018). "Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education, Research and Practice. (2016). Edited Collection by Jessica Hutchings and J Lee-Morgan". New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies. 53 (2): 303–305. doi:10.1007/s40841-018-0115-6. ISSN 2199-4714.
    • "Book challenges a narrow world view – Education Aotearoa". 7 August 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
12. Reviews:
    • "Te Mahi Oneone Hua Parakore: A Maori Soil Sovereignty and Wellbeing…". Stone Soup Syndicate. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
    • Muru-Lanning, Charlotte (20 October 2020). "A world beyond our feet: Rethinking our relationship with where we grow our kai". The Spinoff. Retrieved 22 September 2022.