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Valance Smith
Valance Smith, MA, Ph.D. is of Māori (Ngāti Mahuta, Te Parawhau, Te Uriroroi, Te Mahureure ki Whatitiri), English and Chinese descent. He is Assistant Pro-Vice-Chancellor Māori Advancement and Tiriti Strategist at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Aotearoa New Zealand, providing academic and cultural leadership across the university. This includes leading the mātauranga Māori (‘Māori knowledge’) strategy at AUT. His doctoral thesis looked at the role of contemporary Māori music in promoting te reo Māori (the Māori language). His most recent research applies mātauranga Māori across many disciplines, including kaitiakitanga (‘protection and guardianship of the environment’), well-being and design for health; for example, mātauranga Māori solutions for Kauri Dieback, and maramataka (‘the Māori lunar calendar’) and its connection to physical activity.
Contact: Te Ara Poutama, Auckland University of Technology, 55 Wellesley Street East, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.