About the medal
View the design of the Dame Joan Metge Medal
Dame Joan Metge Medal (front) featuring Dame Joan Metge
Dame Joan Metge Medal (back)
In 2006 the Royal Society of New Zealand agreed to instigate the Dame Joan Metge Medal to honour Dame Joan’s contribution to the social sciences. This contribution includes capacity building, beneficial relationships with research participants, and mentoring of new researchers as well as contributions to new knowledge.
Dame Joan Metge is best known for her ability to promote cross cultural awareness between Pakeha and Māori, something she has continued to do for over half a century, writing numerous books and articles. In 1987 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in 1997 she was awarded the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s inaugural Te Rangi Hiroa Medal and in 2006 the Royal Society Te Apārangi created the Dame Joan Metge Medal in recognition of her contribution to the social sciences.