2022 Te Kōpūnui Māori Research Award: Why isn’t my professor Māori?
Dr Tara McAllister, Te Aitanga ā Māhaki, from the Centre for Science in Society, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, has received the Te Kōpūnui Māori Research Award for her research into the underrepresentation and undervaluing of Māori academics.
Tara’s ground-breaking research has drawn national and international attention to the under-serving of Māori by New Zealand’s universities. Her most pivotal work ‘Why isn’t my professor Māori? A snapshot of the academic workforce in New Zealand universities’ showed Māori comprise only 5% of the academic workforce and this proportion has remained stagnant for at least six years. This paper has provided much needed quantitative evidence that supports the lived experiences of Māori academics.
It has informed Te Ara Paerangi, the research sector reform, and leveraged change within higher education institutions.
Subsequent research by Tara and collaborators has highlighted inequities for women, Māori and Pasifika in the research sector.
Royal Society Te Apārangi Te Kōpūnui Māori Research Award:
For early career researchers to recognise innovative Māori research.
Citation:
For research into the underrepresentation and undervaluing of Māori academics.