Contact details +6449793065

Sonya Withers

Senior Lecturer

School of Design

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Project Leader 1 2

Current Projects

Project Title: Mātauranga Moana: enhancing Bee Healthy Dental Hubs with Māori & Pacific whānau

Date Range: 2023 - 2025

Funding Body: Health Research Council of New Zealand

Project Team:

Research Outputs

Journal

Withers, S. (2024). Book review: LOPESI, Lana (ed.): Pacific Arts Aotearoa. Auckland: Penguin Books, Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, 2023. 544 pp., ack., afterword, contribs., foreword, gloss., index, intro., notes, timeline. NZ$65.00 (hardcover).. Journal of the Polynesian Society. 133(Special Issue: in a room, in a house, on an island, in an ocean), 113-115
[Book Review]Authored by: Withers, S.
Withers, S., Harper-Siolo, C., Dunstall, S., Vaima'a, P-R., Gibbs, K., & Te'o-Faumuina, A. (2024). MOANA (PACIFIC) EXPRESSIONS OF DESIGN: SETTING THE CONDITIONS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL INQUIRIES THROUGH LEARNING AND CREATIVE PRACTICE. Art/Research International. 8(2), 599-635 Retrieved from https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/ari/index.php/ari/issue/view/1952
[Journal article]Authored by: Withers, S.
Allen, JMU., Bennett, JL., Clark, ZL., Escott, KR., Fa’avae, DTM., Kaulamatoa, JL., . . . Woolner, VH. (2022). Relational and collective excellence: unfolding the potential of Pacific early career researchers. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 52(S1), 75-91
[Journal article]Authored by: Withers, S.
Hughes, M., & Withers, S. (2020). Textiles through an Indigenous Lens: Recognizing how our colonial past has shaped the way we use fiber throughout Moana-nui-a-kiwa.. Surface Design Journal. 44(4), 12-17 Retrieved from https://www.surfacedesign.org/winter-2020-sdj-aotearoa-new-zealand-out-now/
[Journal article]Authored by: Withers, S.

Book

Sonya, W. (2018). Fashion and tatau appropriation: Flattering or offensive?. In S. Mallon, & S. Galliot (Eds.) Tatau A Cultural History of Samoan Tattooing. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press
[Chapter]Contributed to by: Withers, S.

Conference

Withers, S., & Stokes, G. (2023). Mātauranga Moana: uplifting Māori and Pacific values of conceptualisation over western co-design constructs. Design Research Society, Learn X Design 2023 Full Paper. (pp. 1 - 15). : The 7th International Conference for Design Education Researchers
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Withers, S.
Kilford, A., Kane, F., Ruka, T., & Withers, S. (2023, September). Mapping the benefits of collaborative textile research in Aotearoa New Zealand. Presented at 2023 Textiles Intersections Conference. London.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Kane, F., Kilford, A., Withers, S.Contributed to by: Withers, S.
Withers, S. (2021, September). Beneath the Aloha shirt – shifting representations to centre indigenous designers and worn perspectives.. Presented at Selvedge World Fair 2021
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Withers, S.
Kane, F., Withers, S., & Kilford, A. (2021, July). Interconnected Futures: Material practices and knowledge-based systems in the academy. Presented at Pivot 2021 Conference. Canada.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Kane, F., Kilford, A., Withers, S.
Withers, S.(2021, April). Materializing the visibility of Sāmoan women: how the puletasi has served the presence of Sāmoan women in Aotearoa.. .
[Conference]Authored by: Withers, S.
Withers, S. (2020, November). Talanoa > Critique.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Withers, S.
Withers, S., & Leone, S.Moana Pacific Perspectives: Reconnecting Moana communities with their collections in Auckland Museum’s Pacific Collection Access Project. . Brisbane
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Withers, S.

Other

Withers, S. (2018). Threading the history of the Aloha shirt: From Hawai’i to Aotearoa.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Withers, S.
Withers, S. (2018). Ipu: An abundance of Hawaiian history and culture.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Withers, S.
Withers, S. (2018). The Gift of Kapa.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Withers, S.
Withers, S. (2017). Garments as canvases and zero-waste design: The work of Greta Menzies.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Withers, S.