MBC teachers piqued Peter’s passion
Dr Peter Meihana presents at the revealing of whale bones in the Rangitane House foyer. Photo: William Woodworth.
Ella Marsters
A history class at Marlborough Boys’ College ignited a lifelong spark for one of New Zealand’s most renowned historians.
Dr. Peter Meihana attributes his on-going passion for history to having inspiring teachers during his senior college years, but one who taught local history allowed Peter to learn more about his ancestry.
“Because I live in Blenheim, whakapapa to Blenheim, and sit on the board of local iwi Rangitane o Wairau, I get to be in lots of different places, and I get to write, and research about my own community”, says Peter.
Once he completed his college years, he embarked on a winding path to becoming the renowned history lecturer that he is today, spending many years juggling his work and University studies.
In 1993 he started his studies at the University of Otago, completing his bachelor’s degree before moving overseas for two years, then returning to New Zealand for further studies.
He initially began studying for a Masters degree in history on the foreshore and seabed claims. In 2008 he returned to university to complete a PhD, finishing in 2015, which led him into a permanent job as a Maori history lecturer at Massey University.
Between finishing his Masters and beginning his PhD study he worked with the Waitangi Tribunal as a Maori historian, as at the time of his return to New Zealand the local Top of the South Island tribes were going through Treaty claims.
He has picked up many skills on his journey, especially in writing and research, but says, “you are constantly learning new things”.
“Because of data bases and resources becoming digitalized, and now on the internet, you have to navigate data, databases and search places,” says Peter.
In 2023 he attended the Marlborough Book Festival, speaking on his book “Privilege in Perpetuity” that analysed the historical use of the concept of “Maori privilege” in NZ .
Within the book, Peter points to quotes from a 200-year-old opinion that suggest, “This is no time for favouritism of one class of the inhabitants of the colony, least of all, an expensive favouritism”.