A History of Māori Studies at the University of Auckland, New Zealand

In this article I will outline the history of the oldest Māori studies university programme, discussing the legacies left by the four Professors of Māori studies who preceded me as the heads of the programme. Much is owed to the inaugural Professor of Māori studies, Professor Bruce Biggs, and the strong language and linguistic base of the programme which remains to this day. He led the programme for more than 30 years but took early retirement as a stronger Māori-defined focus was being sought and Māori were rejecting stories about themselves told through the eyes of the coloniser.The second head was Professor Sir Hugh Kāwharu who provided a strong, highly visible and permanent Māori presence on the Auckland campus. During his time the university marae and the Māori studies academic wing were opened, providing Māori students and members of the Māori community with a culturally safe place for them to gather, study and learn about the Māori world in an otherwise alienating university environment. Under Sir Hugh the focus of the department’s work shifted to addressing the needs of Māori communities.The third head was Professor Ranginui Walker who expanded the programme beyond its language and anthropological focus to include Māori aspects of political studies, resource management and feather, fibre, stone and wood technology. Professor Walker led a major initiative to address the shortcomings of the University’s structures and teaching programmes in respect of Māori studies.