Sir Tipene O’Regan
Sir Tipene O’Regan is Assistant-Vice-Chancellor Maori at the University of Canterbury, Chairman of Ngâ Pae o Te Maramatanga, the Centre for Maori Research Excellence at the University of Auckland and Upoko of the Awarua Runanga of Ngai Tahu. He has published and lectured extensively over many years on Ngai Tahu traditional history, Polynesian migration, Treaty issues and the evolution of biculturalism and the wider politics of Mâoridom.

In more recent years he has been a noted contributor to the debate on the forward development of the Mâori economy and the modernising of tribal institutions. He holds three Honorary degrees ; a D.Litt from the University of Canterbury and Honorary doctorates of Commerce from both Lincoln University and Victoria University of Wellington.

Hana O’Regan
Hana O’Regan was raised in Wellington in a family immersed in Mâori Treaty and identity politics. She received her secondary schooling at Queen Victoria Mâori Girls Boarding School in Auckland before becoming an American Field Scholar in Thailand for one year. Hana returned to pursue an undergraduate degree with a double major in Mâori Studies and Political Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington.

Hana left Otago University in 1997 to take up a position at CPIT (Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology) where she headed the Mâori language programme before taking up the position of Head of School in 2000. After four years at CPIT Hana took up the position of Manager of the Mâori Language Unit of the Ngâi Tahu tribal organisation where she helped develop and lead the tribal language strategy for a further four years. She returned to CPIT as Dean of Te Puna Wânaka, the new Faculty of Mâori Studies, in 2006.

Hana has been a member of The Mâori Language Commission – Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Mâori – since 2003. The bulk of Hana’s recent publications has been centred on Kâi Tahu tribal stories and histories for rakatahi, and most recently published an anthology of Mâori poetry, Kupu with co-author Charisma Rangipunga.

She is the proud mum of two beautiful children.