School of Agriculture and Environment staff

Contact details +6469517876

Prof Nick Roskruge PhD, JP

Professor

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Agriculture and Environment

Professional

Contact details

  • Ph: 06 9517876
    Location: 1.04, Maori Resource Studies (Old Fruit Crops Building), Batchelars Road
    Campus: Turitea

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy - Massey University (2008)

Fellowships and Memberships

  • Member, Justice of the Peace (Other) (2003)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Horticulture/vegetable production, Maori Resource Studies, Maori & Pacific Agribusiness, Ethnobotany

Thematics

Resource Development and Management

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences (070000): Agricultural Land Management (070101): Agriculture, Land and Farm Management (070100):
Environmental Sciences (050000):
Farm Management, Rural Management and Agribusiness (070106):
History And Archaeology (210000):
Horticultural Crop Growth and Development (070601): Horticultural Crop Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds) (070603): Horticultural Production (070600):
Languages, Communication And Culture (200000):
Other Environmental Sciences (059900):
Other History and Archaeology (219900):
Other Language, Literature and Culture (209900):
Soil Sciences (050300): Soil Sciences not elsewhere classified (050399)

Research Projects

Current Projects

Project Title: Bioprotection Aotearoa - Activity 3

Full fees for 2026 have been paid. Submission of thesis is due 31 August 2026. Refund will be due for September - December 2026.
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Date Range: 2021 - 2026

Funding Bodies: Lincoln University; Tahuri Whenua Inc

Project Team:

Completed Projects

Project Title: Bioprotection Aotearoa - Activity 4

Date Range: 2021 - 2024

Funding Body: Lincoln University

Project Team:

Project Title: NSC - Our Land and Water (OLW) Vision Matauranga Think Piece

Date Range: 2017 - 2017

Funding Body: AgResearch Ltd

Project Team:

  • Dr Charlotte Severne - Project Leader
  • Dr Joy Panoho - Team Member
  • Prof Nick Roskruge - Team Member
  • A/Pro Jason Mika - Team Member

Project Title: Kaore te kumara e korero mo tona ake reka

Date Range: 2016 - 2018

Funding Body: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Project Team:

Project Title: Tracing the influence of cultivation on the whakapa of endemic NZ plants with molecular markers

The domestication of plants and animals was the most important development in human history during the past 13 000 years. Most crops are thousands of years old, with aspects of their initial domestication indeterminable. However, the relatively recent settlement of New Zealand by Maori provides a unique opportunity to investigate the early phase of crop domestication. We shall use genetic analyses of four endemic New Zealand plants cultivated by Maori to examine recent domestication: karaka, rengarenga, whau, and coastal kowhai. Prior to human arrival these species are thought to have been restricted to the northern North Island. Their occurrence in the southern North Island, the South Island, and distant Chatham and Kermadec Island groups, which is strongly associated with M?ori archaeological sites, is considered to result from translocations as part of their cultivation. Our analyses will reveal information about the number of times each species was brought into cultivation and the way in which domestication has reduced genetic diversity in the cultivated populations. Our genetic data, combined with traditional oral histories, where available, will reflect and illuminate pre-European Maori settlement routes and mobility.
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Date Range: 2008 - 2011

Funding Body: Marsden Fund - Full

Project Team:

Teaching and Supervision

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 1 4
Co-supervisor 0 4

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • Aleise Puketapu - Doctor of Philosophy
    Tikanga-driven food production systems for a selection of Māori cultivate crops

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • 2024 - Juana Cordoba Sanchez - Doctor of Philosophy
    Plant germplasm diversification strategies-a case of study using Limonium
  • 2022 - Ilisoni Leweniqila - Doctor of Philosophy
    "Na mata ni Civa au a vakawaletaka" - An indigenous case study on the potential of kumala (Ipomoea batatas) to achieve Climate Smart Agriculture in Ra
  • 2021 - Allan Siano - Doctor of Philosophy
    Abiotic Stress Effects Associated with Climate Change on Yield and Tuber Quality of Potato Cultivars in New Zealand
  • 2021 - Rohit Lal - Doctor of Philosophy
    Development of sustainable nutrient management strategies for taro growers on Taveuni Island, Fiji.

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2024 - Fredy Monserrate Rojas - Doctor of Philosophy
    Fertiliser management strategies for improving fruit nutrient composition and quality in Hass avocado
  • 2020 - Suliasi Vunibola - Doctor of Philosophy
    E da dravudravua e na dela ni noda vutuni-i-yau’ - Customary land and economic development: case studies from Fiji.
  • 2015 - Pilirani Pankomera - Doctor of Philosophy
    Effects of postharvest treatments on sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) storage quality
  • 2014 - Robin Atherton - Doctor of Philosophy
    Nga Uri o Karaka: An genetic study of karako/kopi in Aotearoa/New Zealand

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Last updated on Monday 27 February 2023