After receiving an MA in New Zealand History, Dr Delyn Day began learning the Māori language at the University of Otago, New Zealand. For the past two years, she has worked as a policy analyst for Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission).Dr Poia Rewi is Dean of Te Tumu (the School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies) at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. He has been lecturing in the area of Māori and Indigenous studies since 1992, and holds a BSocSci and an MA in Māori from Waikato University, New Zealand, and a PhD in Māori Studies from the University of Otago. His areas of interest include the Māori language, Māori customary practices, and Māori performing arts.Dr Rawinia Higgins is Pro-Vice Chancellor of Māori at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. She has been an academic since 1994, and her interests cover Māori language; policy, status, acquisition, maintenance, identity and rights; Māori customary practices; performing arts and moko; and Māori tribal histories and politics. As a corollary of her academic career experience and research, she has published and presented on a range of topics, as well as being contracted to undertake research projects for the Kōhanga Reo National Trust (a national pre-school Māori language immersion initiative) and Te Ataarangi (a national adult Māori language learning programme). Beyond the academic context, she has engaged with Māori stakeholders throughout the country, assisting with local tribal research on asset management and lending advice on academic and social development. She is also a Board member of Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) and Te Māngai Pāho (the Māori Broadcasting Commission).
