Expertise:

We are delighted to welcome Dr Awanui Te Huia (Ngāti Maniapoto) to our Te Manawahoukura Rangahau team, based in Porirua.

Dr Te Huia is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading scholars in te reo Māori revitalisation, with a distinguished academic and research career spanning language, psychology, identity, and the enduring impacts of colonisation. Formerly an Associate Professor at Te Kawa a Māui, Victoria University of Wellington, she holds a doctorate in psychology focused on the factors that support heritage language development for Māori learners of te reo Māori.

Her research is widely recognised for its depth, accessibility, and real-world relevance. Awanui led the national research project Manawa Ū ki te Reo Māori, which examined the motivations, aspirations, and barriers experienced by over 1,000 Māori language learners. This kaupapa formed the foundation of her highly regarded book, He Reo Tuku Iho: Tangata Whenua and te Reo Māori (Te Herenga Waka University Press), a work that centres the lived experiences of tangata whenua and offers an affirming, hopeful pathway for language reclamation and revitalisation.

Across her career, Awanui has made significant contributions to both scholarship and public discourse. Her work speaks directly to the structural conditions required for te reo Māori to flourish, and she is widely respected as a public voice on language revitalisation, identity, and wellbeing. Many will also recognise her for her accessible engagement beyond academia, where she supports learners navigating the emotional and intergenerational dimensions of language learning.

The appointment of Dr Te Huia represents a significant strengthening of research capability within Te Manawahoukura. Her expertise, values, and deep commitment to kaupapa Māori research align strongly with our aspiration to produce Rangahau that is theoretically robust, culturally grounded, and transformative for Māori communities.

We are honoured to welcome Awanui into our team and look forward to the depth of insight and leadership she brings to our collective mahi.