By Niki Partsch 

Author, researcher, historian and long-time farmer Stan Pardoe (Rongowhakaata) was surprised but delighted to receive an honorary doctorate from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi for his contributions to mātauranga Māori. 

Stan found out about the honour via a phone call with Justice Layne Harvey and Te Runanga o Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Chief Executive Ronald Nepe. Stan responded by asking, “Have you got the right person? You don’t give things like this to a silly old farmer... I felt so humbled by it.” 

Stan is a five-time published author whose most recent contribution is Stories of old Ūrupa within Turanga nui a Kiwa (2022). Support to get this book published came from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga mātauranga Māori funding.  

By listening carefully to stories recited by his elders, and hearing those stories repeated over and over through time, Stan sharpened his extraordinary recall of names, dates, places and connections. 

“I have been blessed with a good memory,” says Stan, whose skills were recognised from a young age when he would be taken to all the tangi at different marae with his elders to listen and to learn. 

Read more about Stan’s story here.