On the surface 3D animation and game design and the world of research have little in common. However, AUT animation and game design student, Hakopa Ririnui, has proven these two worlds can collide successfully to communicate research data through visual storytelling. Hakopa created a 3D animation entitled 'Te Hau Kāinga o Āpōpō’ - a stunning visual representation of whānau and stakeholder perceptions of what housing and home could be in the future based on participant feedback from our Tō Mātou Kāinga, Tō Mātou Ūkaipō project.
His work is part of our Translation, Uptake and Impact (TUI) project which aims to share research data and outcomes in ways that appeal to wider audiences, including indigenous communities. Hakopa’s work was proudly launched at the recent Re-imagining Māori and Home Symposium,
"I was honoured to launch 'Te Hau Kāinga o Āpōpō' at this Symposium alongside other creative works from AUT design students," says Hakopa.
“Māori have a rich history of storytelling based around whānau, manaakitanga, and kaitiakitanga; that was what really drew me toward working on this kaupapa.”
Under the guidance and support of Kia Puāwai deputy director and TUI project lead, Dr Tanya Allport, and project team design lead, Tom Johnson, Hakopa says he was able to exercise both his technical and creative skills to meet the brief, while having fun and learning about the world of kaupapa Māori research.
“They created a real ‘tuakana-teina’, kaupapa Māori environment; I felt really supported by Tanya and Tom and learned a lot from them throughout this process,” says Hakopa.
The project led Hakopa to the 'awesome discovery' that visual tools, like 3D animation and game design, can represent research data in ways anyone can understand.
"It took several months to bring this animation together, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work on such an incredible kaupapa,” he says.
“This experience has sharpened my visual storytelling skills through the art of animation." Check out this video where Hakopa discusses his experience working on this kaupapa.
The Re-imagining Māori and Home symposium, held on the 17th of July 2025 at the AUT city campus, brought together researchers, practitioners, rangatahi, and community leaders to explore innovative housing solutions grounded in Māori perspectives.
Hosted by Whakauae Research Services Ltd, Taupua Waiora Centre for Māori Health Research (AUT), and Design for Health (AUT), the one-day event was a powerful space for sharing whakaaro, creative problem-solving and action-focused kōrero and for disseminating the new knowledge gleaned through the Kia Puāwai programme’s Tō Mātou Kāinga, Tō Mātou Ūkaipō research project.
