Prof Richard Walter

Professor Richard Walter’s study involves the archaeology and historical anthropology of Aotearoa and the tropical Pacific, from Lapita settlement through Melanesian diversification to current cultural heritage management, from pure research to commercial research.

From this broad technical and institutional background, it is interesting that he reaches a definition of Hawaiki that mirrors that of a Maori carver and sailor like James Eruera, whose ideas of the Polynesian universe came from his grandfather, from Hec Busby, and from his experience of the waka formed under his hands, and sailing the wide waters.