We are delighted to announce that Reina Solomon and Matariki Williams will be joining Te Pae Wānanga (Research & Publishing) as Pou Taki Te Tai (Project Manager, Te Tai Treaty Settlement Stories programme) and Pou Hītori Māori Matua (Senior Māori historian) respectively. These roles were formerly held by Gabrielle Paringatai-Lemisio and Monty Soutar respectively.
Reina (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tama, Ngāi Tahu) has worked as claims manager for Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai Charitable Trust, as a resource management consultant for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Āti Awa, and as a project manager for a te reo Māori educational publisher, among other roles. Reina will start with us on Monday 31 May.
Matariki (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hauiti) comes to us from Te Papa, where she has been Curator Mātauranga Māori for the last five years. Prior to that, as some of you will remember, she worked for Manatū Taonga in 2015-16 as a researcher and assistant adviser for Taonga Tūturu. She has also co-founded and co-edited an online journal of Māori art, served on the boards of Museums Aotearoa and the National Digital Forum, and was a presenter for the recent television series National Treasures. Matariki will start a bit later, on 28 June.