About Graham Smith
Born 1950. Graham Smith is a New Zealand academic.
Graham Hingangaroa Smith (born 1950) is a New Zealand Māori academic and educationalist of Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Apa and Ngāti Kahungunu descent. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
Career Smith grew up with his grandmother in the Wairarapa region. He received a scholarship to a private boarding school in Auckland, which led to university and a teaching career.
After a Diploma of Teaching and a PhD at the University of Auckland, he was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) there for five years. He is now CEO and vice-chancellor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. He is also a principal investigator at Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga.
Notable doctoral students of Smith include Makere Stewart-Harawira.
Awards In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, Smith was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and education. In March 2021, Smith was made a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, recognising his "research and practice have been foundational to the development of Kaupapa Māori theorizing and 'transforming praxis'".
Personal life He is married to fellow academic Linda Tuhiwai Smith.
Publications The development of kaupapa Maori: Theory and praxis. 1997. Indigenous struggle for the transformation of education and schooling. 2003. Protecting and respecting indigenous knowledge. Chapter by Smith, Graham Hingangaroa in: Reclaiming Indigenous voice and vision, 2000. Reform and Maori educational crisis: A grand illusion. 1991. "Do you guys hate Aucklanders too?" Youth: voicing difference from the rural heartland. 2002.
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Graham Smith's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Graham Smith's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Graham Smith?
New Zealand Māori academic
When was Graham Smith born?
Graham Smith was born in 1950.
What is Graham Smith's occupation?
Graham Smith is an academic.
What nationality is Graham Smith?
Graham Smith is New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Graham Smith (Māori academic)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Graham Smith. https://biography.guide/graham-smith-academic/
MLA: "Graham Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/graham-smith-academic/.
Chicago: "Graham Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/graham-smith-academic/.
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