MissJennifer Smith

Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Education Systems

A sustained programme of research focused on culturally responsive pedagogy, educational relationships, wellbeing and leadership. This work translates Māori educational knowledge into practical frameworks for educators, with current research extending into culturally responsive leadership.

Recent publications:

• Smith, J. (2025). Tē toia, tē haumatia: Cultural safety for Māori teachers [Doctoral thesis, University of Canterbury].
• Smith, J. (2026, October 13). Cultural Safety and Sustaining Māori Teacher Wellbeing in Schools [Poster presentation]. Indigenous Wellbeing Conference.

Culturally Responsive Literacy

Research examining how evidence-based literacy teaching can be strengthened through culturally and linguistically responsive approaches. This includes the Better Start Literacy Approach, Kaupapa Māori literacy research, pūrākau, te reo Māori and He Awa Whiria approaches.

Recent publications:

• Smith, J., Virtue, A. K., & Karaka-Clarke, T. H. R. (2026). Balancing phonics and te reo Māori in early literacy: A critical examination. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples.
• Gillon, G., Smith, J. P., Maitland, R., Macfarlane, S., & Macfarlane, A. H. (2024). He Awa Whiria: Informing the design of the Better Start Literacy Approach. In He Awa Whiria: Braiding the knowledge streams in research, policy and practice.

Rangatahi and the Media

An interdisciplinary research programme exploring rangatahi experiences of digital media and technology, particularly Māori, Pacific, Deaf and Rainbow rangatahi. This work takes a strengths-based approach to understanding the role of digital media in young people's lives and wellbeing.

Completed Masters research

• Nation, K. (2026). More than just screen time: Perspectives of underserved rangatahi on the positive role of digital media and technology. Master of Science in Child and Family Psychology, University of Canterbury. Co-supervisor.

Recent publications: 

• Swit, C. S., Smith, J., Hāpuku, A., Fialele, O., Barclay, F., Hibbert-Schooner, R., Nation, K., & Coyne, S. M. (2026). “It’s a window to the outside world…” Perspectives from minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand on the impact of media and technology on their wellbeing. Journal of Adolescent Research.
• Gath, M., Swit, C., McLean, M., Wang, Y., Smith, J., & Gawn, J. (2026). Educational content features of screen media for preschoolers: Links with later language, literacy and maths ability. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 77, 309–325.
• Smith, J., & Hāpuku, A. (2026, October 12). “It’s a Window to the Outside World”: Rangatahi Digital Lives and Indigenous Wellbeing [Oral presentation]. Indigenous Wellbeing Conference.

Kaupapa Māori Audiology

An interdisciplinary programme bringing Kaupapa Māori methodology and Māori cultural and linguistic knowledge into audiology and hearing healthcare. Research includes hearing assessment in te reo Māori and Māori experiences of hearing healthcare.

Current Master's research

• May Gernhoefer – Piloting and validation of the Kendall Toy Test in te reo Māori, including Māori perspectives on hearing health and language.
• Imogen Roux – Development of culturally and linguistically appropriate speech assessment materials in te reo Māori.