Hugh Kawharu

Sir Ian "Hugh" Kawharu, ONZ, FRSNZ (18 February 1927 - 19 September 2006) was a distinguished academic and paramount chief of the Ngāti Whātua Māori tribe.

Born in Ashburton, New Zealand, he attended Auckland Grammar School. He gained a BSc in geology and physics from the University of Auckland, an MA in anthropology from Cambridge University and an MLitt and DPhil from Oxford University.

In 1970 he became the foundation professor of social anthropology and Māori studies at Massey University. Between 1985 and 1993 he was professor of Māori studies and head of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Auckland, where he directed the building of the university's marae and was made an emeritus professor after he retired.

Waipapa marae, University of Auckland

He was chair of the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board from 1978 to 2006. He served on the Royal Commission of the Courts (1976-1978), the New Zealand Māori Council, the Board of Māori Affairs (1987-1990) and the Waitangi Tribunal (1986-1996). He was a New Zealand delegate to UNESCO and a consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He was also President of the Polynesian Society.

In 1989 he was knighted, and was appointed a member of the Order of New Zealand in 2002.

He was patron of the Pitt Rivers Museum and an honorary Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford.

References

• "Sir Hugh remembered for dignity and mana". NZPA. 2006-09-20. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3802527a11,00.html. Retrieved 2006-09-20. 
• Order of New Zealand