Dr Anne-Marie Jackson is a pioneering force in kaupapa Māori research, Māori education and hauora Māori. With deep roots in rural Southland and whakapapa to multiple iwi of Te Taitokerau, her journey reflects the aspirations of her late parents—hardworking shearing and wool handlers who instilled in her a commitment to whānau, service, and excellence.

Anne-Marie holds:

• PhD in Māori Studies and Physical Education,
• Master’s and Honours degree in Physical Education from the University of Otago, 
• Diplomas in Te Reo Māori from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Her academic and research career spans over two decades, with roles including Professor of Hauora Māori and Co-Director of Te Koronga. Her research into Māori health and well-being focuses on supporting the hopes and aspirations of Māori communities.

Her impact is perhaps most powerfully seen through her co-leadership of Te Koronga, a transformative kaupapa Māori research and teaching rōpū. Through Te Koronga, Anne-Marie has guided over 65 Māori research students across undergraduate to doctoral levels and beyond—embedding Indigenous knowledge, identity, and tikanga into every layer of tertiary learning.

Anne-Marie serves as Managing Director of Rehutai Consulting Ltd, delivering Indigenous-led research and consulting services. Within Rehutai, she is the Co-Director of Coastal People: Southern Skies, a National Centre of Research Excellence dedicated to the mauri ora of coastal communities. This is a multi-institutional, national and international research centre with over 200 researchers and students working collectively towards mauri ora of coastal communities. More recently as part of her mahi in Rehutai, she has become a chartered member of the Institute of Directors as she builds her governance experience to lead organisations in delivering strategy and outcomes for Māori.

Her work spans hauora Māori, climate resilience, water safety, tikanga-based rangahau, language revitalisation, and rangatahi leadership—all grounded in a deep sense of accountability to whānau, hapū, and iwi. She is driven by a commitment to mātauranga Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and creating āhuru mōwai—safe, nurturing spaces for Māori excellence to thrive.

Anne-Marie’s achievements have been widely recognised, including receiving the Royal Society Te Apārangi Te Kōpūnui Māori Research Award, the Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award,  the Carl Smith Medal and Rowheath Trust Award and an inaugural 2025 Ngā Tohu Kanapu Acceleration award.

Anne-Marie is a dedicated māmā, mentor, and advocate, she continues to walk alongside communities, building pathways for future generations to lead with confidence, identity, and mana.

Links:

University Otago Newsroom Kaupapa Māori Professor Anne-Marie Jackson delivers IPL on Marae, 15 August 2023

Univerity Otago Inaugural Professorial Lecture - Professor Anne-Marie Jackson (YouTube) 

Waateanews.com Article: Coastal folk given tools to read climate change 15 May 2023

Kaupapa Māori science centre announced for Otago University Stuff Article 23 June 2022 

Otago Daily Times Article: Award for early career research 10 September 2020 

Dr Anne Marie Jackson – Recipient of a 2020 Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award (YouTube)

Otago Daily Times: National awards for Otago scholars, 18 October 2019

Research Gate Profile  Anne-Marie Jackson

Wikipedia Profile - Anne-Marie Jackson

Mai Journal Editorial Board Member - Associate Professor Anne-Marie Jackson

Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching Kaupapa Māori Category| Dr Anne-Marie Jackson Associate Professor School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences University of Otago| “The kaupapa matua is the central purpose of why we’re here – in this class, and in the world, and that is mauri ora. Mauri ora is flourishing wellness.”

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) Profile Dr Anne-Marie Jackson

Dunedin’s Writers Readers Festival Profile : Anne-Marie Jackson

Coastal People: Southern Skies Senior Leadership Team (Profile)

Te Koronga Special (Full Issue) June 2023 MAI Journal A New Zealand Journal of Indigenous Scholarship 12(1):1-109 DOI:10.20507/MAIJournal.2023.12.1.10