Jessica Hutchings

Jessica Hutchings is a New Zealand researcher, author, and Ashtanga Yoga teacher. Hutchings' work is grounded in kaupapa Māori research (research informed by tikanga Māori) within the subject areas of environmental and Indigenous studies.

Career Hutchings completed a PhD in environmental studies and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Māori health research. She was the Director Māori, Tumu Whakarae of the Building Better Homes Towns and Cities National Science Challenge from 2018–2021 leading a Māori research programme in the Challenge. Hutchings is also a member of the MBIE Science Board.

She cited the New Zealand COVID-19 lockdown as encouraging wider conversation and action around food sovereignty, saying "Since the Covid lockdown, it’s just been right at the forefront of everything… We’re right on conversations around what food security is, we’re beginning to have conversations as whanau Māori."

Along with Victoria University associate Jo Smith (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) Hutchings founded Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust, which focuses on food sovereignty education and research, and includes food growing initiatives such as Feed The Whānau.

Jessica Hutchings participated in the development and research for Hua Parakore, the organic food production verification system used by Te Waka Kai Ora (The Māori Organics Authority of Aotearoa, New Zealand).

Recognition

2016 Māori Book Awards, Te Kōrero Pono - Non-Fiction Winner for Te Mahi Mara Hua Parakore: A Maori Food Sovereignty Handbook

Personal life From Ngāi Tahu, Gujarati, and Ngāti Huirapa descent, Hutchings' work primarily focuses on Māori food sovereignty and decolonization.

Selected works

Publications

Filmed Lectures and Documentaries

Hua Parakore: A kaupapa Māori pathway for Maori soil and food sovereignty. Toi Tangata, 2021. New Zealand. Hua Parakore: Living Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Happen Films, 2021. New Zealand.