Introduction
William Te Rangiua (Pou) Temara is a Māori academic. He is currently professor of Te Reo and Tikanga (language and practices) at Waikato University and a cultural authority on whaikōrero (oratory), whakapapa (genealogy) and karakia (prayers and incantations). Prior to working at Waikato he taught at Victoria University of Wellington (where he also studied) and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Temara has been a member of the Waitangi Tribunal since 2008 and is currently chair of the Repatriation Advisory Panel at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Temara is a member of the Tūhoe Waikaremoana Māori Trust Board and chair of Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe within his iwi (tribe), Ngāi Tūhoe. He is on Kingi Tuheitia's 'Council of Twelve.'
Family
Temara was raised by his grandparents in a Māori-language environment in the Ureweras until he was eight years old, when he was sent to an English-language boarding school in Auckland. He is the nephew of Māori language activist Jean Puketapu. His uncle Makarini Temara was on the first Waitangi Tribunal in 1975.