Peter Mataira PH.D.

College of Liberal Arts - School of Social Work

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Mataira is of Māori descent, with ancestral ties to the tribes of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata, and Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki. He holds a doctoral degree in Social Policy and Social Work from Massey University, Albany Campus in Auckland; a M.Phil degree (MSW equivalency) and a BSW from Massey University in Palmerston North. Dr. Mataira has published extensively in areas of Indigenous health and wellbeing, community practice, Indigenous research methodologies, ethics, and social entrepreneurship. His clinical and community work experience includes mental health social work, substance abuse prevention, community sustainability, and economic development. Beyond his professional interests, he enjoys music, writing, running, rugby, travel, and spending time with his family. 

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

Decolonizing Social Work – reimagining social work praxis through an Indigenous lens and redressing colonial systems of care; Indigenous Research & Evaluation Methodologies – storytelling as data, integrating Kūkulu Kumuhana, The Aloha Framework and the S.E.E.R Framework into research; AI & Indigenous communities - culturally grounded, equity-driven AI tools, ethical engagement, sentient analysis - frameworks for ethical decision-making prioritizing Indigenous sovereignty. Social Entrepreneurship – co-developing Indigenous-led economic solutions aligning with community values, ethics, and environmental sustainability.