About
Our multidisciplinary team, worldwide reach, and state-of-the-art facilities create a unique hub for ambitious research and impactful applications.
Science and technology with real-world impact
We are a team of applied physicists, engineers, and materials scientists dedicated to translating advanced science into practical applications.
Our research covers high-temperature superconductors (HTS), magnet technology, satellite propulsion systems, and materials innovation—essential technologies for a sustainable, electrified, and prosperous future—as well as emerging cutting-edge innovations.
From powering electric aircraft to transforming access to MRI, our work spans the depths of the human body to the edge of space. What differentiates us is not only our scientific leadership but also our determination to see bold ideas come to fruition—delivering value through partnerships, commercialisation, and long-term national benefit.
Locally grounded, globally engaged—Collaboration at the core
Our name, Paihau, reflects both heritage and aspiration. The paihau splice—a traditional Māori innovation—strengthened the voyaging waka that carried Polynesian explorers across the Pacific. At our Institute, this symbol reminds us that progress comes from skill, courage, and collective effort. Like the engineer Bill Robinson, whose name we also bear, we believe technology should make the world better, safer, and more resilient.
We work closely with partners across Aotearoa and globally—from government and iwi organisations to aerospace companies and hospitals. We take a long-term view, nurturing relationships and translating research into technologies that create jobs, businesses, and better futures.
We’re recognised for transforming ideas from the lab to the market. Through demonstration projects, testing facilities, and spin-outs, our research fosters economic development and export growth.
Our commitment to industry partnerships within Aotearoa and overseas is creating a network of companies that are together commercialising the technology we are developing.
The Future Magnetic and Materials Technologies Platform
The Future Magnetic and Materials Technologies Platform (FMMTP) is hosted by Paihau–Robinson Research Institute and is designed to place New Zealand at the forefront of clean energy, electrified transport, space propulsion, and sustainable materials processing.
The platform draws on the expertise and resources of our partnership network to create a hub we describe as Superconductor Valley, a nod to our institute's location in the thriving science and business environment of the Hutt Valley, just a stone’s throw from Wellington.
The FMMTP brings together scientific depth, specialised facilities, and trusted partnerships. Its purpose is to ensure that Aotearoa New Zealand not only adopts but shapes the foundational technologies of the future—those that underpin climate resilience, economic sovereignty, and national wellbeing.
The team
We are a multidisciplinary and diverse team with expertise ranging from fundamental physics to cryogenic engineering. This broad scope enables us to tackle real-world problems and quickly develop practical solutions for our clients. We engage in research programmes funded by local and global private sector partners and the government.
Our staff and students come from all around the world. We warmly welcome the many students and visiting researchers who come to collaborate with us, and we have an expanding network of partners worldwide.
Location
We are situated within the Gracefield Innovation Quarter, 20 minutes from Wellington city.