Jessica Hutchings is a New Zealand researcher, author, and Ashtanga Yoga teacher.
[1] Hutchings' work is grounded in kaupapa Māori research (research informed by tikanga Māori ) within the subject areas of environmental and Indigenous studies.
She was the Director Māori, Tumu Whakarae of the Building Better Homes Towns and Cities National Science Challenge[2] from 2018–2021 leading a Māori research programme in the Challenge.
"[5] Along with Victoria University associate Jo Smith (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha)[6] Hutchings founded Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust,[7] which focuses on food sovereignty education and research, and includes food growing initiatives such as Feed The Whānau.
Jessica Hutchings participated in the development and research for Hua Parakore, the organic food production verification system used by Te Waka Kai Ora (The Māori Organics Authority of Aotearoa, New Zealand) [8] From Ngāi Tahu, Gujarati, and Ngāti Huirapa descent, Hutchings' work primarily focuses on Māori food sovereignty and decolonization.