What Ihi Research does

Ihi Research is a Māori-owned research and evaluation organisation headquartered at Studio 2, 36 Southwark Street, Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. Its core service portfolio comprises Kaupapa Māori research, community-based evaluations, social-justice and equity research, and Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis, delivered as bespoke commissions rather than a packaged platform. Active programmes span the Understanding Policing Delivery initiative with NZ Police, women's homelessness research, Rugby World Cup campaign reviews for World Rugby, Whānau Ora and Hāwaiiki Kura evaluations, and a Pro Bono research line for non-profits. Customers are New Zealand government agencies (e.g., the Retirement Commission, MFAT, NZ Police), iwi and Māori organisations (e.g., Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu), philanthropic foundations (e.g., Rātā Foundation, Asia New Zealand Foundation), and international sport bodies (World Rugby, Australian Sailing Team).

The business model is professional services: revenue comes from commissioned research contracts priced on a project basis, supplemented by pro-bono work that builds community reputation. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct engagement with institutional clients, supported by content marketing through peer-reviewed publications (Policy Quarterly, etc.), earned media in RNZ/NZ Herald/Stuff/The Spinoff, and podcast appearances (Red Nine). There is no software product, subscription line, or pricing-tier disclosure; supply is principally the time of senior researchers and consultants with deep kaupapa Māori and contemporary social-science credentials. International visibility is being extended via partnerships with Sheffield Hallam University (UK) and Lincoln University (NZ) on a quantified SROI study, and Australian sports federations on Olympic-campaign reviews.

Name

Ihi Research

Legal name

Ihi Research

Website

https://ihi.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ihi Research is a Māori-owned research and evaluation organisation in Christchurch, New Zealand that delivers kaupapa Māori research, SROI analysis, and community-based evaluations for government agencies, iwi organisations, philanthropic foundations, and international sport bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Evaluation Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

Keywords

• Kaupapa maori research
• Social return on investment
• Community-based evaluation
• Policy research services
• Indigenous research

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Research and Evaluation Services: Ihi Research generates revenue through commissioned research projects, evaluations, and assessments for government bodies, iwi organizations, charitable trusts, and community organizations. Projects include policy research, program evaluations, social return on investment analyses, and community needs assessments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ihi Research is a Māori-owned research and evaluation organisation that delivers commissioned research projects, community-based evaluations, social justice and equity research, and Social Return on Investment (SROI) analyses for government agencies, iwi/Māori organizations, NGOs, charitable foundations, and sport bodies across Aotearoa New Zealand. Services are grounded in a kaupapa Māori approach—research led by and for Māori—and combine traditional Māori knowledge with contemporary academic methodologies to produce culturally rigorous, evidence-based outputs.

Product overview

Ihi Research is a Māori-owned research and evaluation organisation offering a portfolio of interconnected research services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Kaupapa Māori Research Services, Community-Based Evaluations, Social Justice and Equity Research, and Social Return on Investment (SROI) Analysis. These services are complemented by specialized research programmes such as the Understanding Policing Delivery research programme, women's homelessness research, Rugby World Cup campaign reviews, Whānau Ora research, and Hāwaiiki Kura evaluation. The organisation also provides Pro Bono Research Services for non-profit organisations. Rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, Ihi Research delivers bespoke research and evaluation engagements tailored to community needs, government bodies, and social service organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kaupapa Māori Research Services Research conducted prioritising Māori perspectives and methodologies, ensuring findings represent with integrity and benefit Māori communities.
• Community-Based Evaluations Working alongside diverse communities to ensure findings are inclusive, culturally relevant, and reflective of varied perspectives, leading to equitable and effective solutions.
• Social Justice and Equity Research Uncovering systemic inequalities and providing evidence-based recommendations for policy changes and interventions to empower marginalised communities.
• Social Return on Investment (SROI) Analysis Measuring the social, cultural and economic value created by programmes and services.
• Pro Bono Research Services Providing essential research and advisory services at no cost to non-profit organisations, grassroots movements, and community projects aligned with the organisation's mission.
• Understanding Policing Delivery Research Programme Independent research programme examining fair and equitable policing for Māori and other communities, conducted in collaboration with NZ Police.
• Women's Homelessness Research Study examining barriers and solutions to women's homelessness in Aotearoa New Zealand, undertaken for the Coalition to End Women's Homelessness.
• Rugby World Cup Campaign Reviews Campaign reviews for Rugby World Cups across Japan 2019, New Zealand 2022, France 2023, and England 2025, including the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, covering 10-16 teams per tournament for World Rugby.
• Whānau Ora Research Research examining whānau-centred, Māori and Pacific led primary health care and the Whānau Ora approach to improve health services for Māori and Pacific whānau.
• Hāwaiiki Kura Evaluation Evaluation of Hawaiki Kura's wellness and empowerment wānanga: Tāne te Waiora for men, Hine te Waiora for women, and Pito Mata for rangatahi.

Quantifiable outcome

• SROI of $2.12 for every $1 invested in recreational physical activity (consortium research with Sheffield Hallam University)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence PreventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIhi Research delivered the Multi-Agency Responses (MAR) Case Studies report for The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention in January 2026, as part of a linked three-part MAR Outcomes Evaluation. This represents a strategic research partnership focused on family violence response systems.
• Sheffield Hallam UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIhi Research participated in an international research consortium led by Sheffield Hallam University (UK) and Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit at Lincoln University (NZ) to conduct Social Return on Investment analysis of recreational physical activity. The consortium found $2.12 social impact per $1 invested.
• Lincoln University (Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research with Lincoln University's AERU on SROI of recreational physical activity in Aotearoa New Zealand, demonstrating international research collaboration.
• Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission to conduct exploratory research on iwi managed investment schemes and iwi savings schemes across Aotearoa, with focus on retirement outcomes for Māori.
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāi TahucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu commissioned Ihi Research to undertake independent evaluation of the Whānau as First Navigators (WaFN) programme designed to strengthen early support for whānau Māori.
• World RugbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIhi Research has been contracted by World Rugby to undertake campaign reviews across multiple Rugby World Cups including Japan 2019, New Zealand 2022, France 2023, England 2025, and Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, covering 10-16 teams per tournament.
• New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pacific Remittances Opportunities Project (PROP) is a three-year pilot project funded by MFAT that aims to enhance economic development outcomes in Fiji from rugby-generated remittances, with Ihi Research conducting evaluation.
• Asia New Zealand FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned by Asia New Zealand Foundation to conduct the first-ever Māori perceptions survey of Asia and Asian peoples, exploring Māori business connections and opportunities in Asia.
• Australian Sailing TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Sailing Team contracted Ihi Research to review Olympic Campaigns from Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024, providing high-performance feedback to athletes, coaches, and staff.
• Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa/NZ PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIhi Research leads the Understanding Policing Delivery research programme examining fair and equitable policing for Māori, working in collaboration with NZ Police over a two-year programme beginning late 2022.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research (UTS): Australian indigenous-led research institute at the University of Technology Sydney, focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. Comparable as an indigenous-led research organisation in a neighbouring country, providing similar culturally-grounded research capability to indigenous communities.
• Lowitja Institute: Australia's national institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. Comparable as an indigenous-led research organisation focused on community health and equity research, though sectorally specialised in health.

Direct peers

• NZIER (New Zealand Institute of Economic Research): Independent economic research institute providing analysis to NZ government and business. Comparable as a similarly-sized NZ-based research organisation producing commissioned policy and sector research, though NZIER is more economics-focused rather than indigenous/social.
• Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga: Centre for Māori research excellence hosted at the University of Auckland, conducting indigenous research. Comparable as a Māori-led research organisation operating in NZ, though Ngā Pae is an academic centre rather than a private consulting firm.
• BERL (Business and Economic Research Limited): NZ-based research and consulting firm providing economic, social, and environmental research for government, iwi, and private clients. Comparable because both operate as NZ-focused professional research consultancies serving government and Māori/iwi organisations, with BERL being a more generalist economics-focused peer.
• Malatest International: NZ-based social research and evaluation firm working with government agencies, NGOs, and community organisations. Comparable because both deliver commissioned social and policy research and programme evaluations to similar client types.
• Research New Zealand: NZ-based market and social research firm offering custom research, surveys, and evaluation. Comparable as a domestic research provider delivering commissioned projects to government and nonprofit clients, with broader market-research focus.

Broad incumbents

• Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development): NZ Government ministry advising on Māori development policy. Comparable as a major player shaping Māori-focused research commissioning, often acting as a client or commissioning body for research of the type Ihi delivers.
• Kantar New Zealand (formerly Colmar Brunton): Large-scale market research and public opinion polling firm operating in NZ. Comparable as a research provider working with NZ government and major clients, but operating at significantly larger scale and broader commercial focus.

Others

• Te Kāhui Tika Tangata (Human Rights Commission): NZ Human Rights Commission addressing discrimination and inequality including Māori equity issues. Comparable as a stakeholder in the same equity and indigenous-rights research space, often commissioning or referencing research of the type Ihi produces.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ihi-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ihi Research