Māori scholars

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library Services to Schools

This story provides links to resources about some of Aotearoa New Zealand's Māori scholars.

MĀORI SCHOLARS

From the late 19th century Apirana Ngata and Te Rangi Hīroa (Peter Buck) published papers in the proceedings of conferences of Te Aute College Students’ Association. Both continued to write about Māori culture and traditions. Mākereti Papakura studied anthropology at Oxford University in England, and her thesis was published as The old-time Maori.

Later Māori academics included Maharaia Winiata, Bruce Biggs and Linda Tuhiwai Smith. In the 2000s Māori involvement in academic research and writing continued to grow.

Source: Māori non-fiction and scholarship – ngā tuhinga me te rangahau – Te Ara, the Encylopedia of New Zealand    

SIR ĀPIRANA NGATA (NGĀTI POROU)

Political science and law 

Image: Apirana Ngata

Apirana Ngata

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Āpirana Ngata, 1894

Āpirana Ngata, 1894

Auckland Libraries

TE RANGI HĪROA ‘PETER BUCK’ (NGĀTI MUTUNGA)

Medicine and anthropology 

Image: Peter Henry Buck

Peter Henry Buck

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Peter Buck

Peter Buck

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Sir Peter Buck's investiture

Sir Peter Buck's investiture

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

MĀKARETI ‘MAGGIE’ PAPAKURA (TŪHOURANGI, TE ARAWA)

Anthropology and ethnography 

Image: Maggie Papakura, around 1910

Maggie Papakura, around 1910

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: [Portrait of Makereti (Maggie) Papakura]

[Portrait of Makereti (Maggie) Papakura]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

PEI TE HURINUI JONES (NGĀTI MANIAPOTO)

Māori history and genealogy 

Image: Pei Te Hurinui Jones (left), Korokī (centre), and Te Kiri Katipa

Pei Te Hurinui Jones (left), Korokī (centre), and Te Kiri Katipa

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Pei Te Hurinui Jones

Pei Te Hurinui Jones

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: A gathering of Māori linguists

A gathering of Māori linguists

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

MAHARAIA WINIATA (NGĀTI RANGINUI)

Anthropology and Māori studies 

Image: Maharaia Winiata

Maharaia Winiata

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Dr Maharaia Winiata

Dr Maharaia Winiata

Alexander Turnbull Library

BRUCE BIGGS (NGĀTI MANIAPOTO)

Linguistics and Māori studies 

Image: Bruce Biggs

Bruce Biggs

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Bruce Biggs

Bruce Biggs

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: University of Auckland Department of Māori Studies staff, 1993

University of Auckland Department of Māori Studies staff, 1993

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

HUGH KAWHARU (NGĀTI WHĀTUA)

Geology, physics and anthropology 

Image: Mr O H Kawharu (later Sir Hugh Kawharu)

Mr O H Kawharu (later Sir Hugh Kawharu)

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Bruce Biggs and Hugh Kawharu

Bruce Biggs and Hugh Kawharu

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Sir Hugh Kawharu. 20 September, 2006.

Sir Hugh Kawharu. 20 September, 2006.

Alexander Turnbull Library

ROBERT MAHUTA (WAIKATO TAINUI)

Māori studies   

Image: Sir Robert Mahuta

Sir Robert Mahuta

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

RANGINUI WALKER (WHAKATŌHEA)

Education, anthropology and Māori studies 

Image: Ranginui Walker

Ranginui Walker

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Portrait of Ranginui Walker

Portrait of Ranginui Walker

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ranginui Walker, 2006

Ranginui Walker, 2006

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

MASON DURIE (RANGITĀNE, NGĀTI KAUWHATA)

Medicine, psychiatry and Māori studies   

Image: Mason Durie

Mason Durie

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

EDDIE DURIE (RANGITĀNE, NGĀTI KAUWHATA)

Law

Image: Eddie Durie and Paul Temm

Eddie Durie and Paul Temm

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Māori professionals: Tui Adams and Eddie Durie

Māori professionals: Tui Adams and Eddie Durie

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

TĪMOTI KĀRETU (NGĀI TŪHOE, NGĀTI KAHUNGUNU)

Māori language and performing arts 

MOANA JACKSON (NGĀTI KAHUNGUNGU, NGĀTI POROU) 

Law and criminology  

Image: Moana Jackson

Moana Jackson

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

NGĀPARE HOPA (WAIKATO TAINUI)

Education, anthropology, philosophy and Māori studies 

Image: Young Māori Woman of the Year contest, 1968

Young Māori Woman of the Year contest, 1968

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Fire that kindles hearts : ten Maori scholars

Fire that kindles hearts : ten Maori scholars

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

LINDA TUHIWAI SMITH (NGĀTI AWA, NGĀTI POROU)

Māori studies, education and health 

Image: Decolonizing methodologies

Decolonizing methodologies

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith

Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga

MARIA BARGH (TE ARAWA, NGĀTI AWA)

Political Science and Māori studies   

Image: A hidden economy : Maori in the privatised military industry

A hidden economy : Maori in the privatised military industry

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

MARAMA MURU-LANNING (WAIKATO, NGĀTI MANIAPOTO)

Anthropology and Māori studies  

Image: Tupuna Awa and Te Awa Tupuna

Tupuna Awa and Te Awa Tupuna

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga

JANI WILSON (NGĀTI AWA, NGĀ PUHI, NGĀTI HINE)

Māori studies and film and media studies 

TAHU KUKUTAI (NGĀTI TĪPĀ, NGĀTI MAHANGA, NGĀTI NGAWERO) 

Sociology and Māori studies 

Image: Whānau; Trends and Wellbeing

Whānau; Trends and Wellbeing

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga

MĀMARI STEPHENS (TE RARAWA)

Classics, law and Māori language 

Image: Māmari Stephens

Māmari Stephens

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga

DAN HIKUROA (NGĀTI MANIAPOTO, TAINUI, TE ARAWA) 

Geology and Māori studies  

ALICE TE PUNGA SOMERVILLE (TE ĀTI AWA, TARANAKI) 

English, Māori studies and indigenous studies 

MEIHANA DURIE (RANGITĀNE, NGĀTI KAUWHATA, NGĀTI RAUKAWA, RONGO WHAKAATA, NGĀI TAHU)

Māori studies, health and education  

RANGI MATAMUA (TŪHOE)

Māori studies and astronomy 

JOANNA KIDMAN (NGĀTI MANIAPOTO, NGĀTI RAUKAWA)

Sociology and Māori studies   

SHAUN AWATERE (NGĀTI POROU)

Māori studies and economics 

Image: Whakatipu Rawa Mā Ngā Uri Whakatipu

Whakatipu Rawa Mā Ngā Uri Whakatipu

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga

MOREHU MCDONALD (NGĀTI HINERANGI)

Māori studies and philosophy 

JACINTA RURU (RAUKAWA, NGĀTI RANGINUI, NGĀTI MANIAPOTO)

Law and Māori studies 

NĒPIA MAHUIKA (NGĀTI POROU)

History and Māori studies 

SUZANNE PITAMA (NGĀTI KAHUNGUNU, NGĀTI WHARE)

Psychology and Māori health 

KRUSHIL WATENE (NGĀTI MANU, TE HIKUTU, NGĀTI WHĀTUA O ORĀKEI, TONGA)

Philosophy 

LINDA WAIMARIE NIKORA (TE AITANGA A HAUITI, NGĀI TŪHOE)

Psychology and Māori studies  

PUAWAI CAIRNS (NGĀTERANGI, NGĀTI RANGINUI, NGĀTI PŪKENGA)

Education and museum studies   

OCEAN MERCIER (NGĀTI POROU)

Physics and mātauranga Māori  

This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, November 2022.