Aotearoa born Cook Islander Emma Ngakuraevaru Powell has been awarded the Moana Oceania Award for the 2020 Early Career Researchers ataata video competition.

Powell is currently completing her PhD in Pacific Studies at Victoria University in Wellington and had entered the competition by submitting a 3 minute video project. 

The video competition is funded by the Royal Society Te Apārangi Early Career Researcher Forum with support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

According to the Royal Society New Zealand, Powell studies the everyday lives of Cook Islands Māori people to explore how 'akapapa 'anga, or genealogy, is used and understood.