13 May 2009

Honorary doctorate for Maori education stalwart

8:19 pm on 13 May 2009

Massey University is to honour one of Maori education's stalwarts, Turoa Royal, on Wednesday with an honorary doctorate of Literature.

Mr Royal of Ngati Raukawa ki Te Tonga, Ngati Wharara, Ngati Hine and Nga Puhi, has spent more than 50 years encouraging Maori into tertiary education.

Waatea News reports he piloted the introduction of whanau-based learning and was an advocate for recognising cultural identity as an important factor of educational achievement for Maori.

Mr Royal says he is honoured to receive the doctorate, but he believes Maori still have a long way to go.