Professor Tracey McIntosh awarded Te Rangi Hīroa Medal

Professor Tracey McIntosh (Ngāi Tūhoe) has been awarded the Te Rangi Hīroa Medal by the Royal Society Te Apārangi for her research on social injustices.

Professor McIntosh's research is focused on stopping the intergenerational transfer of social inequality. Her areas of focus include the experiences of incarcerated Māori women and male ex-prisoners with gang associations. Her work looks at ways to ensure greater Māori well-being with a strengths-based approach. This includes working with marginalised communities as experts in identifying solutions to prevent further social injustices. Watch a brief video from the Royal Society Te Apārangi of Professor McIntosh talking about her work.

In an interview with Waatea News, Professor McIntosh said:

"There needs to be the ceding of power. There needs to be the ceding of power from government. There needs to be the ceding of power in the research environment from researchers so it is far more community-driven, that the type of research questions being asked are the type of research questions relevant to the communities, that they want answered, and that very often they have some of those answers."

Professor McIntosh received the award for "significantly advancing our understanding of the enduring social injustices that undermine Māori wellbeing and inhibit social cohesion and meaningful cultural diversity in Aotearoa."

The Royal Society Te Apārangi noted Professor McIntosh's efforts to bridge academic research and sociopolitical action. This includes her work on the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty in 2012, her expert testimony at the Waitangi Tribunal hearings which lead to a finding that the Crown had breached Treaty obligations on Māori reoffending in 2016 and her ongoing work with Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, New Zealand's Māori Centre of Research Excellence.

The NZ Royal Society Te Apārangi said,

"The medal selection committee said that McIntosh’s work demonstrates a deep commitment to addressing social inequalities, and a transformative approach to her research, teaching and service, steeped in Māori values, particularly whanaungatanga (relationships, connections and a feeling of belonging) and manaakitanga (process of showing respect, generosity and care)."

To learn more about Professor McIntosh's work, see her publications in the NZFVC library and the research at the end of the news story, Corrections launches new strategy for women offenders.

Tracey McIntosh is Professor of Indigenous Studies and Co-Head of Te Wānanga o Waipapa at the University of Auckland, as well as being interim Co-Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. Professor McIntosh also received a 2016 national Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award in the Kaupapa Māori category. She is a member of the Academic Advisory Group for the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse.

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