Ngā Puhi BCom (hons) (MANT), DipGrad (TOUR), MCom (MANT) Programme: Doctorate of Philosophy, University of Otago School of Business I am currently a Lecturer in operations strategy, supply chain management and organisations & sustainability, studying a PhD part-time with a completion date in early 2007. My under-graduate and post-graduate degrees are in operations management, supply chain management and tourism. After enrolling in a PhD (part-time) in June 2002 I had somewhat of an epiphany, where I couldn't imagine spending five years on plain old organisational strategy. So I took a step along a road that has been incredibly rewarding, challenging and exciting by basing my research in a Maori business context. The working title of my dissertation is 'Examining the role of social, cultural and economic capital in Māori Business', which is nice flowery academic way of saying I want to understand the dynamics of Māori business. I believe that good business practice is the same wherever or whoever is running the business, but different cultures bring distinct values, meanings and behaviours to business practice that influence their firm's performance. My research proposition is that improved Māori firm performance and sustainable advantage are not merely an outcome of economic activity, but are also a corollary of the value derived from combinations of distinct Maori socio-cultural resources and capabilities. My aim is to contribute to the Kaupapa of Māori business that reflects contemporary Māori business practice. After completion, I intend to remain in academia. I believe my background and experience in organisational studies keeps me grounded in my research. Conversely my research provides me with a much greater depth to my teaching.