2012 Symposium Enhancing Māori Distinctiveness

Dr Ocean Ripeka Mercier (Ngāti Porou) is a Lecturer in Te Kawa a Māui (School of Māori Studies) at Victoria University of Wellington. In 2002 she became the first Māori woman to gain a PhD in Physics. Dr Mercier’s current teaching and research explores the interface between Māori and indigenous knowledge and science in tertiary and secondary educational contexts.

Erima Henare (Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kurī, Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Āti Awa, Tainui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-ā-Māhaki) was a Chair and former Chief Executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. Mr Henare had a wide-ranging background in regional community development and governance.

Professor Ngāhuia Te Awekotuku is Professor of Research at Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao (School of Māori and Pacific Development) at the University of Waikato. With other degrees in Art History and English, her PhD (1981) was in psychology. This experience contributed to her writing an early (1991) monograph on Māori research ethics.

Associate Professor Poia Rewi lectures at Te Tumu (School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies), the University of Otago. He affiliates to descendants of Mātaatua and Te Arawa. His main areas of research and teaching, and community engagement involve the Māori language, Māori culture, education and performing arts.

Born and raised in Te Arawa, the entrepreneur Wetini Mitai-Ngatai started his career teaching at Rotorua Boys and Western Heights High School, before lecturing at Waiariki Institute of Technology.