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
- 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.
- de Jesus Dionisio R., Schindler M. and Kingham S. (2020) Tools for sustainable change: How spatial decision-support tools support transformative urban regeneration. International Journal of E-Planning Research 9(2): 21-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/IJEPR.2020040102.
- Schindler M., Dionisio R. and Kingham S. (2020) Challenges of Spatial Decision-Support Tools in Urban Planning: Lessons from New Zealand's Cities. Journal of Urban Planning and Development 146(2) http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000575.
- De Oliverira Falcao I., Walker D., Dionisio R., Savarimuthu S., Macfarlane A., Matunga H. and Kingham S. (2019) Place-based tools for supporting community leadership in urban planning in Aotearoa New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: FOSS4G-Oceania, 12-15 Nov 2019.
- Dionisio R. (2019) Streets made for living: Considerations for urban intensification in Aotearoa New Zealand cities. Wellington, New Zealand: Where Do We Dance? Symposium in a Park(ing) Space, 8-8 Mar 2019.