Naomi Simmonds (Raukawa, Ngāti Huri) is a knowledge seeker, story collector, and researcher who leads Taku Tapuwae, an independent research company born from her love of learning and commitment to the whenua and those who care for it. Her passion lies in understanding how we learn from and with the environment. When she's not working alongside whānau at Pikitū Marae or retracing ancestral footsteps (including an incredible 380km journey following Mahinaarangi's path!), you'll likely find her adding to her ever-growing book collection – she's never met a bookstore she could resist!

A proud māmā to three tamariki, Naomi dreams of taking her tamariki on a worldwide library tour, though her own home library keeps expanding faster than she can find shelf space! Her favourite kind of days are those spent at Pikitū Marae, where every conversation adds another layer to the rich tapestry of stories she collects and shares. Between research ventures and taiao adventures with her tamariki around, she still holds onto her childhood dream of being/meeting Mariah Carey, though these days she's more likely to be found sharing pūrākau with her children or tending to her worm farm and dabbling in gardening.