Tom Roa is a senior lecturer at Waikato University. He is the principal investigator on the project Exploring a Māori classificatory system of flora and fauna within Tainui waka. His research interests are translation and interpretation of Māori-English, Kīngitanga, Waikato-Maniapoto oral and written history and traditions. He is the Chair of Te Arataura, Waikato Tainui's Executive.