Pou Temara
New Zealand Māori academic (born 1948)
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Sir William Te Rangiua "Pou" Temara KNZM (born 1948) is a New Zealand academic. He was professor of Māori language and tikanga Māori (practices) at Waikato University[1] and a cultural authority on whaikōrero (oratory), whakapapa (genealogy) and karakia (prayers and incantations).[2] Prior to working at Waikato, he taught at Victoria University of Wellington, where he also studied,[3] and at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. He is currently Professor of Māori Philosophy at Awanuiārangi.[4]
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1948 (age 77–78)
Tikanga Māori
Sir Pou Temara | |
|---|---|
| Tā Pou Te Rangiua Temara | |
Temara in 2021 | |
| Born | William Te Rangiua Temara 1948 (age 77–78) |
| Relatives | Jean Puketapu (aunt) |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Te Reo Tikanga Māori |
Early life
Temara was born in 1948.[5] He was raised by his grandparents in a Māori language environment in the Ureweras until he was eight years old, when he was sent to an English-language boarding school in Auckland.[2] He is the nephew of Māori language activist Jean Puketapu.[6] His uncle Makarini Temara was on the first Waitangi Tribunal in 1975.[7] Temara is the son of George Temara,[8] a WWII veteran of the Māori Battalion.[9]
Professional life
Temara has been a member of the Waitangi Tribunal since 2008[4] and is currently chair of the Repatriation Advisory Panel at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[10][11] He is a member of the Tūhoe Waikaremoana Māori Trust Board[10] and chair of Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe within his iwi (tribe), Ngāi Tūhoe.[10] He is a member of the Tekau-mā-rua, having first been appointed by Kīngi Tūheitia.[12]
Television
He was the presenter of Korero Mai, Television New Zealand's first Māori language series.[13]
Honours
In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, Temara was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori and education.[14] In the 2021 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Knight Companion.[15] He is a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand.[16]