AWARD: Professor Angus Hikairo Macfarlane and his wife Sonja Macfarlane with his research medal. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 291213AWARD.JPG
AWARD: Professor Angus Hikairo Macfarlane and his wife Sonja Macfarlane with his research medal. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 291213AWARD.JPG
Professor Angus Hikairo Macfarlane certainly knows all about perseverance and reward.
The Ngati Whakaue and Ngati Rangiwewehi descendant is the professor of Maori Research at the University of Canterbury, who has been awarded the 2013 University of Canterbury Research Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Maori research andeducation. He is the first Maori to be awarded the medal.
This adds to the Te Tohu Pae Tawhiti Award, national acclaim given to a top Maori researcher, which he received from the New Zealand Association for Research in Education in 2010.
Professor Macfarlane is the director of the Te Ru Rangahau: Maori Education Research Laboratory, focuses his research on the organisation of teaching and learning in schools where structures and engagement emphasise Maori preferred ways of teaching and learning.
His research interests examine the impact of culture and indigeneity in 21st century understandings of social and psychological development. From this he introduces a range of tools and concepts and applies them to the respective disciplines of education and psychology.
His current research activities include several large projects. Ka Awatea is a study that looks at high-achieving rangatahi in their final year of school and is supported by Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, the Maori Centre of Research Excellence that serves indigenous researchers and their activities.
The Rotorua project has involved collecting data to determine the reasons high achieving students excel at school. A Mana Model of Student Success is being developed. Another project is one being carried out for the Ministry of Education.
Entitled Huakina Mai (Opening Doorways), this project is designed to support rangatahi experiencing difficulties in learning and behaviour.
