New Ngā Takahoa Hou a Te Apārangi Companions

Three people were recognised in Whiringa-ā-nuku October for their outstanding hautūtanga leadership or sustained contributions to promoting and advancing pūtaiao science, hangarau technology and aronui humanities in Aotearoa by being made Ngā Takahoa a Te Apārangi Companions by Royal Society Te Apārangi. The honour is reserved for those who have made a contribution to society far above and beyond what might be expected of them from the roles they have held. Companions can use the post-nominal ‘CRSNZ’ after their name to indicate this honour. Three people were made Companions of Royal Society Te Apārangi:

Rauru Kirikiri (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) was recognised for his groundbreaking work in embedding mātauranga Māori into science across the Crown Research Institutes and universities and for bringing te ao Māori perspectives into tertiary education and beyond. In 1992, Rau joined the newly-established CRI, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research as the first senior manager in the science system reporting directly to the CEO for ensuring commitments to Te Tiriti were honoured, establishing partnerships with Māori and building capability in tikanga and te reo Māori. Rau held this responsibility until 2006. Rau’s leadership and mentoring has now seen Treaty responsibilities elevated to senior roles across the CRI sector and beyond. His skilled diplomacy, fluency in te reo Māori and all aspects of te ao Māori has influenced science through governance and review in many organisations.

Professor Christine Jasoni was recognised for her efforts to improve public engagement with science and for championing better recognition and a voice for early career researchers. Christine’s governance role on the Royal Society Te Apārangi Council (2009–17), Presidency of the Otago Institute for Arts and Sciences (2009–15) and Directorship of the Brain Health Research Centre (2016–20) are key areas where she has driven significant change for the benefit of New Zealand science. As a member of the Society’s council, Christine coled the formation of the Society’s Early Career Researcher Forum, which has provided a much needed voice for the next generation of scientists in New Zealand. Notable activities to raise public awareness and understanding of scientific issues that she has been involved with include the International Science Festival, Brain Awareness Week, Genetics Otago and Lab-in-a-box.

Dr Sir Tīmoti Kāretu (Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu) was recognised for his supreme efforts in revitalising te reo Māori. Such is the high esteem that he is held in as a leader, he has been called a ‘tipua’ (supernatural being). Sir Tīmoti is the pre-eminent scholar and foremost exponent of te reo Māori. He has been at the forefront of Māori language revitalisation for 40 years – as an academic, language policy commissioner, language teacher, and via a range of key senior Māori language governance roles. One of his most significant ongoing contributions here has been his establishment and leadership of Te Panekiretanga – a Māori Language Institute of Excellence – through which now multiple generations of Māori language speakers have progressed. Sir Tīmoti has also been widely influential in Māori performance, particularly kapa haka, and most recently, in the translation of contemporary Māori waiata.

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