Michael Walker (biologist)

New Zealand biologist

At 2019 Research Honours Aotearoa

Michael Mathew Walker ONZM FRSNZ is a biologist at University of Auckland[1] notable for his work engaging with Māori students. He established a mentoring program called Tuākana in 1991,[2] which pairs first year Māori students with more experienced students in an effort to reduce the previously-high drop-out rate. He is of Te Whakatōhea descent.

Walker was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi in 2003.[3] In the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to science.[4]

In 2011, he won the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award, and a sustained excellence in teaching in a kaupapa Māori context award.[5]

## References

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1. ^ "Professor Michael Walker". bioscienceresearch.co.nz. 2011. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
2. ^ Hargreaves, Lynley (March 2004). "122 Alpha Series Science and the Sea" (PDF). Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
3. ^ "View our current Fellows". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
4. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
5. ^ "PM's award for work with Maori and Pacific students". nzherald.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011. "Professor Walker, a leading biological scientist of Te Whakatohea descent, established the Tuakana Programme more than 20 years ago to improve retention rates for Maori and Pacific science students, particularly in their first academic year."

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