Professor Graham Smith, a prominent Māori educationalist, has been at the forefront of Māori initiatives in the education field and beyond. His recent academic work has centered on developing theoretically informed transformative strategies related to intervening in Māori cultural, political, social, educational and economic crises. Professor Smith has made significant contributions to the political, social, economic and cultural advancement of indigenous Māori communities.
Donna Gardiner is a PhD scholar of NPM. Her doctoral research project "Ka Whawhai Tonu Matou - Our struggle to transform” - looks at Maori leadership today, in a modern context. Donna was previously Research and Community Coordinator for NPM and coordinated the translation of NPM research and activities to our communities, specifically Māori and indigenous, to make positive change. She also coordinated opportunities such as hui, wānanga and conferences for these communities to discuss their research ideas and issues, and creative potential.
Dr Tina Makereti has a PhD and Masters in Creative Writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters. She is a novelist, essayist, curator and short fiction writer. Her first novel, Where the Rēkohu Bone Sings (Vintage, 2014) has been described as a New Zealand classic and 'a remarkable first [book that] spans generations of Moriori, Māori and Pākehā descendants as they grapple with a legacy of pacifism, violent domination and cross-cultural dilemmas.' It was longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award 2016 and won the 2014 Ngā Kupu Ora Aotearoa Māori Book Award for Fiction.
Adreanna is a Senior Lecturer in Te Kura Māori in the Faculty of Education. Her research interests include youth, education, and health as well as Māori development with a specific interest in Indigenous – ethnic minority youth and how existent issues within the community influence life experience and the articulation of that experience.
Amanda’s research expertise is in environmental soil and water chemistry, focusing on major nutrient cycling, including the incorporation of molecular techniques to explore the relationship between functional gene expression and soil product activity.
Dr Amohia Bolton is the Research Director at Whakaue Research for Māori Health & Development with a career that has spanned public policy and academia. She has previously worked as a data analyst (Ministry of Education) policy analyst, senior analyst (Te Puni Kōkiri) and Private Secretary (Māori Affairs) and was awarded an HRC Māori Health Training Fellowship to pursue doctoral study at Massey University in Palmerston North.
Andrew is currently a senior lecturer at Auckland University School of Law. Previously he has taught at the Law Schools of the University of Waikato and Victoria University of Wellington. Between 2008 and 2012 he was Amnesty International’s lead adviser on Indigenous rights based in London and Geneva and he was also lead counsel in the claim by Taranaki hāpu to Petroleum before the Waitangi Tribunal.
Anna Thompson is a senior lecturer and course coordinator at the University of Otago. She serves as the Department representative on the School's Undergraduate Advisory Group and the University of Otago Women's Development Programme. She is Kaiawhina Māori and on the Teaching and Learning Committee for the Tourism Department.
Anne-Marie Jackson is a lecturer in Māori physical education and health at the University of Otago, and joined the School of Physical Education as an academic staff member in 2011.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Physical Education Honours degree majoring in Exercise Sport Science and a Master of Physical Education focusing on education policy at the School of Physical Education, she completed a doctorate in Māori studies and physical education examining rangatiratanga and Māori health and well-being within a customary fisheries context.
