Professor Kura Paul-Burke (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāti Pūkeko, Irish) is a Māori marine ecologist with extensive pragmatic and successful experience combining mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and marine science to assist kaitiakitanga (restoration, monitoring, management) priorities for marine taonga species and spaces with coastal hapū and iwi.