Joan Metge

Who is Joan Metge?

Dame Alice Joan Metge, DBE, is a New Zealand social anthropologist, educator, lecturer and writer. She was educated at the University of Auckland and the London School of Economics where she earned her Ph.D in 1958.

Metge is a past winner of the Royal Society of New Zealand's Te Rangi Hiroa Medal for her research in the social sciences. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1987 for services to anthropology. She continues to advance peace initiatives via her work as a member of the Waitangi National Trust Board, a conference presenter, adviser, and as a mentor to mediators and conflict management practitioners. A scholar on Māori topics, she has been recognised for promoting cross-cultural awareness and has published a number of books and articles in her career. She has likened the relationship among the people of New Zealand to "a rope [of] many strands which when woven or working together create a strong nation".