October 03, 2019
New challenge for Distinguished Professor Ruru
University of Otago law professor has been named one of seven professors singled out for acknowledgement as part of the university's 150th anniversary celebration.
Jacinta Ruru from Raukawa and Ngāti Ranginui has been appointed one of the inaugural Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chairs.
She's also a co-director of the national Māori research centre Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga.
Professor Ruru, who started her academic career there as an assistant lecturer in 1999, says she's grateful for the freedom the university gave her to teach in a way that made sense for Māori students and the support it offered to forge a research career in areas that were dear to her heart.
"Challenging the status quo, challenging our legal system to think about new ways for our legal system to find solutions that make sense to Māori particularly around our rights and interests in land and water, our ownership, governance and management," she says.
Other 150th anniversary activities at Otago University include the Hui Pounamu on October 16 and 17 when the community will be invited in to hear findings from the Māori research carried out there.
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