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The newly created position reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, Professor Meihana Durie.

“Professor Palmer’s appointment as Pou Ākonga together with her elevation to Professor today recognises her remarkable levels of leadership, service and contribution not only to ākonga Māori success here at our university, but also to the advancement of Māori and indigenous leadership on the world stage,” Professor Durie says.

“Her influence continues to have a profound impact on the educational, career and sporting pathways of new generations of aspiring Māori and indigenous academics, sportspeople and business and management leaders. As our new Pou Ākonga, Professor Palmer is immensely well placed to lead work that will advance success not only for ākonga Māori, but also for their whānau, hāpori, hapū and iwi.”

Previously Associate Dean Māori in Massey Business School (MBS), Professor Palmer was instrumental in establishing and leading ākonga Māori academic support programmes and initiatives across the MBS, and successfully supervising a number of Māori Masters and PhD candidates for many years.

Professor Durie says the new appointment brings with it an exciting future for ākonga Māori success at Massey.

Professor Palmer’s contribution over the past two decades includes work as a Senior Lecturer and Senior Researcher. This also includes working with other Māori academic staff to establish groundbreaking Māori Business and Management initiatives including Te Au Rangahau (Māori Business Research Centre), Te Rangiwhenua (Māori staff in MBS), and Te Rau Aukaha (Māori mentoring programme in MBS).

As a founding fellow of Te Mata o Te Tau, the Academy for Māori Research and Scholarship at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa ������Դ, Professor Palmer will continue to contribute to these and other research initiatives in ways that harness Māori leadership and elevate scholarly contributions to Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Whānui.

Professor Palmer’s endeavours include a significant and longstanding contribution to a broad range of critical outcome areas including Māori Business and Management, Women’s Leadership, Women’s Sport, Governance, Māori Education and Ākonga Māori Success with the reach and impact of her work and leadership extending nationally and internationally.

She captained the Black Ferns for 10 years and was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2016, the New Zealand Women’s Provincial Rugby Championship was renamed the Farah Palmer Cup in honour of her achievements, leadership and contribution to the advancement of Women’s Rugby, regionally, nationally and internationally.

In 2016 Professor Palmer became the first female member of the New Zealand Rugby Board and in 2021 was appointed as the first ever Deputy Chair and is the current Chair of the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board, having served on the Board since 2007. She is also a current Board member of Sport New Zealand.