Sir William Te Rangiua "Pou" Temara KNZM (born 1948) is a New Zealand academic. He is 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.[4]

Sir
Pou Temara
Pou Te Rangiua Temara
Temara in 2021
Born
William Te Rangiua Temara

1948 (age 75–76)
NationalityNew Zealand
RelativesJean Puketapu (aunt)
Academic background
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington
Academic work
DisciplineTe Reo
Tikanga Māori

Early life

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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]

Professional life

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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.[8][9] He is a member of the Tūhoe Waikaremoana Māori Trust Board[8] and chair of Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe within his iwi (tribe), Ngāi Tūhoe.[8] He is a member of the Tekau-mā-rua, having first been appointed by Kīngi Tūheitia.[10]

Television

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He was the presenter of Korero Mai, Television New Zealand's first Māori language series.[11]

Honours

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Temara's investiture as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, at Government House, Wellington, on 6 May 2021

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.[12] In the 2021 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Knight Companion.[13] He is a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Pou Temara - Māori & Pacific Development : University of Waikato". The University of Waikato. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Māori professor returned to his roots | Stuff.co.nz". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Mastery of te reo earns top honour - National - NZ Herald News". nzherald.co.nz. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Professor Pou Temara — Waitangi Tribunal". justice.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  5. ^ Husband, Dale (6 June 2020). "Pou Temara: a modern tohunga". E-Tangata. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Maori language pioneer dies | Stuff.co.nz". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Waitangi Tribunal job for Waikato academic | Stuff.co.nz". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  8. ^ a b c "Repatriation Advisory Panel - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ". tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Maori looking at preserving heads again, says academic - National - NZ Herald News". nzherald.co.nz. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Iwi leaders chosen to form King's Council | Stuff.co.nz". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  11. ^ Five prominent Maori leaders share lifetime award for commitment to te reo and tikanga
  12. ^ "Queen's 90th Birthday honours list 2016". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  13. ^ "New Year honours list 2021". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  14. ^ "View our Companions". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
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