About the Chair and Centre

Te Ngāpara Centre for Restorative Practice, led by the Diana Unwin Chair in Restorative Justice, focuses on advancing restorative practice through research, teaching, and community engagement in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Centre collaborates nationally and internationally to develop restorative solutions across sectors including justice, health, and education.

The Meaning of Te Ngāpara

In 2021, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Māori) Office gifted the Centre the name Te Ngāpara with this story: Ngāpara is a resinous wood of trees such as kahikatea and rimu that is used as a torch or to provide soot for moko (tattooing). Moko are applied to signify events including acts of rebalancing and reciprocity necessary to restore peace. We view the name as acting as a shining light, a way forward, for restoring justice and resolving issues.