S.M.A.R.T
Society Of Māori Astronomy Research & Traditions
ABOUT US
SMART was established during the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. Our SMART trust is made up of astronomical educators, Māori knowledge experts and research specialists.
Associate Professor Dr Pauline Harris (BSc, MSc (hons), PhD)
Chairperson of the Board
Dr Pauline Harris is a Māori astronomer and leading researcher in Māori astronomy, space sciences, and Indigenous environmental knowledge. Of Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Ngāti Kuia descent, she is a Principal Investigator and Deputy Director at the MacDiarmid Institute, and a senior academic based at Massey University. Dr Harris is nationally recognised for her pivotal role in revitalising Māori astronomical knowledge (tātai arorangi) and was a key contributor to the establishment of Matariki as a public holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Her research bridges Indigenous and Western scientific worldviews, particularly through the integration of maramataka (the Māori lunar calendar), environmental monitoring, and space-based Earth observation. She has worked in collaboration with NASA’s Indigenous Peoples Initiative and is involved in building Māori capacity in the aerospace sector.
Dr Harris also plays a leading role in science communication, education, and public outreach, working closely with Māori communities and youth to promote engagement in science, sustainability, and the guardianship of te taiao (the environment).
Dr. Rangi Matamua
Professor Rangi Matamua (Ngāi Tūhoe(tribe)) is Professor of Mātauranga Māori at Massey University and a pioneering Māori scholar who has revolutionised understandings of Māori astronomy, and in particular Matariki. His research has been ground-breaking in terms of its contribution to mātauranga Māori; he has enlightened both national and international populations on the mātauranga of astronomy. He is renowned for his role communicating his research in an accessible and engaging way, and reaching both academic and non-academic audiences.
Rangi is both the author of the bestselling book Matariki: The Star of the Year (published both in English and te reo editions) and presenter of the award winning te reo Māori web series Living by the Stars. He has challenged widespread misconceptions about Māori astronomy and has enhanced our understandings of a Māori world view of the stars. His research is situated at the interface between mātauranga Māori and Western science and he is helping to reconnect people with maramataka – the Māori lunar calendar – and the environment. Rangi is also part of a wider movement, reclaiming Indigenous astronomy as part of a continued process of decolonisation. Rangi is a member of the Society for Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions (SMART).Rangi was the 2023 Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year, he has won the 2019 Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize and the 2020 Callaghan Medal for science communication from Royal Society Te Apārangi Professor Matamua was appointed as a fixed term Chief Advisor, Mātauranga Matariki at Te Arawhiti in late 202 to provide advice to Government on the implementation of the Te Ture mō te Hararei Tūmatanui mō Te Kāhui o Matariki/Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022, and oversee the Matariki Ahunga Nui
funding initiative in 2022. Professor Matamua brings a wealth of knowledge on maramataka and Māori environment and ecological knowledge.
Jack Thatcher
Jack Thatcher CNZM joined Te Aurere whanau more than 40 years ago, and has logged more than 35,000 nautical miles of waka voyaging. He is of Ngai-te-Rangi, Ngati Ranginui, Ngati Porou and Te Aitanga a Hauiti descent. Thatcher is one of those few initiated by Pius “Mau” Piailug, the traditional master navigator. Chairman and co-founder of Te Puna I Rangiriri Trust (TPIRT) he has organized instruction for hundreds of young people in traditional Māori knowledge, particularly regarding waka and navigation. For the 150-year commemoration of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Thatcher navigated the Mātaatua Waka, captained the Waka Odyssey voyage for the 2018 New Zealand Festival of the Arts, served as flotilla kaitiaki for Tuia 250 commemorations, and was chief navigator for Sir Heke Busby’s Waka Tapu project.
Jack Thatcher is Chairman of Te Puna I Rangiriri Trust (TPIRT), which he co-founded. Through TPIRT, he and other staff have taught hundreds of children and young people about waka and other traditional Māori knowledge through programmes in schools, polytechnics and wānanga. He has run events and classes based on traditional Māori activities. He established a traditional navigation school where students can gain NZQA qualifications. He leads educational tours of Mount Maunganui and the Mauao historic reserve during Matariki. Mr Thatcher navigated the Mātaatua Waka for the 150-year commemorations of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, captained the Waka Odyssey voyage for the 2018 New Zealand Festival of the Arts, was flotilla kaitiaki for Tuia 250 commemorations, and was chief navigator for Sir Heke Busby’s Waka Tapu project.
Hoturoa Kerr
A lecturer in Maori Studies at the University of Waikato. He is an active contributer to the vaka field, dedicated to passing on the spirit, traditional knowledge and confidence of these early way finders to rangatahi (youth). Hoturoa asserts that science can be perceived as a western concept which Maori and Pacific Islanders can’t quite relate to. However, when youth learn about how their ancestors cleverly built and sailed their waka across enormous ocean expanses, they tend to engage, gain a sense of identity, and grow in confidence and self esteem.
Ockie Simmonds
Real name Henere Tumapuhia, of Raukawa and Nga Puhi parents, is a strong advocate of the retention and understanding of Maori astronomy. He has a background vocation in telecommunications engineering of 18 years with NZ Civil Aviation; specialising in surveillance and weather (1cm & 10 cm) radar systems in NZ and the Pacific. Ockie spent eight years with Maori education in the Ministry of Education & the past five years managing contracts of technical specialists in the management of hazardous substances for the Department of Labour. Ockie has a broad understanding of astronomy & cosmology. His promotion of the Maori night sky is legendary with his whänau. He advocates a new model of the Universe, called the Raukawa Universe, whereby the Raukawa universe is expanding at the velocity of light; that is, all galaxies, black holes, stars, matter, antimatter, the solar system, including planet Earth, are being propagated through space at velocity of light; in accordance with the demands of velocity of light postulate.
Dr. Takirirangi Smith
Has served in the role of Tohunga Whakairo, teaching and mentoring Maori carvers at Victoria University of Wellington; Wairarapa Polytechnic; and Te Heru a Tangi Culture and Education Centre, Masterton. He was also awarded an Honourary Doctorate from Victoria University for his contribution to Maori Knowledge.
Taku Parai
A well respected member of Te Runanga o Ngati Toa and a Chief Adviser to the Mayor of Porirua City. He holds positios on many boards, including Co-Chair of Whitreia Park Board, advisor to the Porirua Harbor Restoration Board and member of Te Upoko O te Ika Maori Radio Board. Mr. Parai also works in the health sector and with Whitireia Polytechnic
Toa Waaka
A Matauranga Maori specialist in Tatai Arorangi – Maori Astronomy. He studied Maori Anthropology papers at Auckland University of Technology and plans to complete his Masters degree at Te Wananga O Raukawa, majoring in Maori Cosmology and Astronomy. Throughout the past 15 years, Mr Waaka has worked as a cultural adviser to the Auckland City Council and various other organisations. In particular, he was involved in the refurbishment of the new Carter at Carter Observatory in Wellington between 2007 – 2008. Recently Mr Waaka was recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientfic and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for his commitment and outstanding contribution to the success of the International Year of Astronomy(2009) in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2010.
