Astronomy Professor Rangi Mātāmua was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit on Friday in Wellington alongside several other Māori for achievements in their fields. Professor Mātāmua chaired the Matariki Advisory Group and was appointed chief advisor to the Labour government which led to the milestone. On Friday, he was honoured with the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori astronomy. Been massive growth, massive real interest and I hope that that's reflected in any support across any sector that we see in Matariki," Professor Mātāmua said. Professor Mātāmua was also Kiwibank's New Zealander of the Year in 2023 for his work in communicating the importance of mātauranga Māori.

Source: Stuff May 24, 2024 20:32 UTC