A Māori geography professor has taken out the major award at the 2018 New Zealand Geographical Society Awards.
Michelle Thompson-Fawcett. Photo: Supplied/University of Otago
University of Otago's geographical department head Michelle Thompson-Fawcett received the 2018 Distinguished New Zealand Geographer Award and Medal.
Prof Thompson-Fawcett won the medal for her work on Māori and indigenous geographies.
Her work aims to help Māori and indigenous groups become involved in discussions around land urbanisation and environmental management.
She said it was good to have this research acknowledged because it was driven by Māori communities.
There was still plenty of room for improvement in helping indigenous groups with self determination in managing their own rohe, she said.
"There are some shifts in legislation and basic requirements for engagement, but the shifts are very slow and still implemented in a patchy way across the country."
