Merimeri Penfold

Merimeri Penfold (née Rapata, 26 May 1920 – 1 April 2014) was a New Zealand Māori educator. She is thought to have been the first Māori woman to teach Māori language at a New Zealand university.

Biography Penfold was born at Te Hāpua to Te Mutunga Rapata Hoterene and Maro Heteraka in 1920. She was educated at Queen Victoria School in Auckland and Auckland Girls' Grammar School. After qualifying as a teacher, she taught at schools around the North Island before returning to university to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree.

For over 30 years Penfold lectured in Māori language at the University of Auckland Her translations of nine of Shakespeare's sonnets into Māori were published in the book Nga Waiata Aroha a Hekepia in 2000. She was also a member of the editorial team for the seventh edition of Williams' Dictionary of the Maori Language, published in 1971.

In 1999 Penfold was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Literature by the University of Auckland. She was awarded Te Tohu Aroha mō Ngoi Kumeroa Pewhairangi for her contribution to te reo Māori (the Māori language) in the 2008 Ngā Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi – Te Waka Toi awards from Creative New Zealand.