ProfessorTe Maire Tau

Professor Te Maire Tau (Ūpoko of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, a hapu of Ngāi Tahu) is a historian on oral traditions, tribal genealogies, and indigenous knowledge systems. Professor Tau became the first Director of the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre at the University of Canterbury in 2011. The centre was founded to facilitate Ngāi Tahu’s intellectual capital, leadership, and iwi development. Across the diverse worlds of academia, governance and the “flax roots” of his Tuahiwi village community, his strength lies in collaborating and building relationships across generations and cultures. His historical knowledge proved invaluable during the settlement of Ngāi Tahu’s Treaty of Waitangi claims, providing evidence in the Waitangi Tribunal, and also playing a part in the Treaty settlement negotiations. Subsequently, his scholarly pursuits extended to writing various publications on oral traditions and the relationship between indigenous knowledge systems and how they intersect with western science and economics. With his leadership, profound expertise and commitment to cultural and economic enrichment, Professor Te Maire Tau greatly influences discussions on indigenous heritage and its connection to modern viewpoints.