Senior LecturerRita Dionisio
My research aims to support local communities in urban planning processes, leadership, and participation.
Qualifications
Research Interests
My research focuses on adaptive urbanism, community resilience, and bicultural planning; aiming at socio-ecological justice. In Human Geography and urbanism, I demonstrate high competence – not only through scientific dissemination and external funding – but particularly by opening pathways to advance the integration of traditional ecological knowledge in decision-making processes, and urban living outcomes. I lead with novel research methods; combining action research, co-creation, and Kaupapa māori methodologies. My research has an increasing local, national, and international impact in the context of climate change emergency. I apply my expertise in collaborative planning through action research and my community connectedness reflects this. The national research programmes that I develop and lead, have the potential to transform local communities, inform national policy, and place UC in a leading position in the field of bicultural planning.
Recent Publications
- Bennett C., Matunga H., Steyl S., Borell P., Dionisio R. and Hāpuku A. (2021) Mana whenua engagement in Crown and Local Authority-initiated environmental planning processes: A critique based on the perspectives of Ngāi Tahu environmental kaitiaki. New Zealand Geographer 77(2): 63-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nzg.12304.
- de Jesus Dionisio MR., Macfarlane AH., Walker DP., Macfarlane SL., Derby M., Caldwell R., Pani J. and Waru R. (2021) Ngā Mātāpono e Rua: Stories of co-creation for bicultural spatial governance in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Geographer 77(2): 76-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nzg.12299.
- Dionisio R. and Macfarlane AH. (2021) Tikanga rua: Bicultural spatial governance in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Geographer 77(2): 55-62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nzg.12303.
- Schindler M. and Dionisio R. (2021) A framework to assess impacts of path dependence on urban planning outcomes, induced through the use of decision-support tools. Cities 115 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103256.
- Boles I. and Dionisio R. (2020) Community Resilience and Grassroots action for long-term urban change in Aotearoa New Zealand. In Design Culture(s) | Cumulus Roma 2020.