Professor Ngāhuia Te Awekotuku is Professor of Research at Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao (School of Māori and Pacific Development) at the University of Waikato. With other degrees in Art History and English, her PhD (1981) was in psychology. This experience contributed to her writing an early (1991) monograph on Māori research ethics. For years she worked in the heritage and creative sectors, as a curator, governor, and activist/advocate. Her research interests include gender issues, museums, body modification, power and powerlessness, spirituality and ritual. She is a co-leader of the Tangi Research Programme which explores Māori ways of death. Her iwi affiliations are Te Arawa, Tūhoe and Waikato.