Arapera Royal Tangaere

Arapera Royal Tangaere (born 1950) is a New Zealand early childhood education leader and advocate for the Māori language. She has worked in early childhood education for more than forty years. In 2022 Royal Tangaere was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and education.

Early life and education Royal Tangaere is Māori, and affiliates to Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa and Kai Tahu iwi.

Royal Tangaere has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Otago, and a Diploma in Teaching and a Master of Arts from the University of Auckland. Royal Tangaere has conducted research to enable parent-led early childhood education to be better supported by the Ministry of Education.

Honours and awards In 1996 Royal Tangaere was awarded the Herbison Lecture by the New Zealand Association for Research in Education. In the 2022 New Year Honours Royal Tangaere was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and education.

Selected works