PhD graduate wins Maori Excellence award
An AUT PhD graduate was recognised on Friday at the Te Amorangi National Māori Academic Excellence Awards.
Peter Maulder, Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Pahauwera, was the recipient of one of these awards, having graduated from AUT at the end of 2011. He completed his research by answering the question 'What is the role of joint coupling variability and joint stiffness in lower limb injury'.
Working with elite and non-elite netballers Dr Maulder’s findings can be used to determine which players are more predisposed to lower limb injury and can therefore take necessary precautions.
Triumph for whanau
He says completing the PhD journey was a huge triumph for his whanau. “I owe my successful PhD journey to the support of my whanau especially my wife Antoinette and our four children. I need to also acknowledge my mentors Professor Patria Hume (AUT) and Dr. Elizabeth Bradshaw (ACU, Australia) for their expertise, patience and guidance.
“I think it is great that Māori academic achievement is celebrated in Aotearoa through the Te Amorangi National Māori Academic Excellence Awards and I feel proud to be a role model for future Māori students interested in Sports Science.”
Associate Professor Pare Keiha, Pro Vice Chancellor Māori Advancement, says that the award is a great opportunity to recognise the significant achievement of Peter, his supervisors and AUT.
"These awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise the success of our Māori PhD students. We actively contribute to enhancing AUT’s commitment to The Treaty of Waitangi and Māori Advancement and foster and support our students to achieve all they can. This achievement by Peter is now recognised not only internally but externally too."
The awards were hosted by the University of Waikato and recognise Māori PhD graduates who have had their doctorates conferred in the last calendar year.
Thirty-nine awards were given out to graduates from universities in New Zealand and around the world.
The Te Amorangi National Māori Academic Excellence Awards were first held in 2002 and since then more than 300 recipients have been acknowledged. A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented at this year’s ceremony at WINTEC’s The Atrium.