Taiarahia Black


Taiarahia Black is a New Zealand academic, who rose to a full professor at the Massey University. He is Māori, of Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāi Te Rangi descent.

Family life

Black's son Otere Black plays rugby professionally.

Academic career

After completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Waikato, he moved to Massey in 1981. His PhD 'Kāore te aroha-- : te hua o te wānanga' , completed at Massey University in 2000, was the first PhD thesis at any university to be published in te reo Māori. Black later became a professor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne.
Black was appointed to the council of Creative New Zealand by Maggie Barry, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Selected works