Professor Hēmi Whaanga is a linguist, professor and Head of School in Te Pūtahi-a-Toi (The School of Māori Knowledge) at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa (Massey University), Aotearoa / New Zealand. Hēmi’s research is centred on the revitalisation, protection, distribution and development of Mātauranga Māori (knowledge) and te reo Māori, incorporating multi-method techniques, methodologies and processes to analyse, develop, present and protect new and sacred knowledge in a range of linguistic, cultural and digital contexts.
He has worked as a project leader and researcher on a range of projects including curriculum development, ethics and digitisation, technology, ecological taxonomy and naming, and Māori astronomy. He affiliates to Ngāti Kahungunu through his father, and Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Waitaha through his mother.
