Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith, a member of the HRC's Board and chair of the HRC Māori Health Committee, has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2013 New Year Honours.
Professor Smith, who is the Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of the School of Māori and Pacific Development, University of Waikato, was recognised for her services to Māori and education.
This recognition caps off a remarkable couple of months for Professor Smith, who also received the Dame Joan Metge Medal for excellence and building relationships in the social science research community at the Royal Society of New Zealand's research honours dinner in November last year. The medal recognised Professor Smith's commitment to inspiring, mentoring and developing Māori researchers.
The HRC Board and Secretariat extend their warmest congratulations to Professor Smith on this well-deserved recognition of her work.