Mākereti Papakura graduation ceremonies: the day in pictures

Saturday 27 September was an incredibly moving day as we celebrated the posthumous award of an MPhil in Anthropology to Mākereti Papakura. We were delighted to welcome so many members of Mākereti’s family and community from Aotearoa.

June Northcroft Grant
(Right) Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, greets guests from Aotearoa at the Weston Library with traditional Māori gestures.
(Right) Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and the guests at the Weston Library.
Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku
(Right) Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, signs books for visitors attending the lunch at the Weston Library.
Two visitors from Aotearoa.
(Right) Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku speaks with visitors from Aotearoa at the Weston Library.
Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand.
A photo of (right) Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and a guest.
Members of the Māori community perform songs of appreciation during lunch at the Weston Library.
(Left) June Northcroft Grant meets (centre) Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, during lunch at the Weston Library.
Members of the Māori community perform songs of appreciation during lunch at the Weston Library.

The day started with lunch at the Weston Library. There was a fantastic atmosphere as the visitors from Aotearoa gathered, with many people reuniting or meeting for the first time. 

Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, gave a speech that celebrated the significance of the upcoming ceremonies.  

A small delegation attended the graduation ceremony in-person at the Sheldonian Theatre. The group included June Northcroft Grant, who was receiving the degree on behalf of her ancestor Mākereti Papakura, alongside other close members of Mākereti’s family and leading members of their community. 

Among them was Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, a pioneering academic in the study of Māori culture and a leading figure in the New Zealand feminist movement. The group also included June’s grand-daughter, great-nieces and great-nephews. 

Throughout the day June Northcroft Grant carried a kete (basket) that was collected by Mākereti, on loan from the Pitt Rivers Museum collection. It was wonderful that an item from Mākereti’s anthropological work was involved in the day. 

Invited guests and members of Mākereti’s family gathered outside the Sheldonian Theatre for the graduation ceremony.
Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, walks to the stage to host the graduation ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre.
Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, referenced Mākereti’s story and scholarship in her opening speech to the graduation ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre.
(Left) Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, presents Mākereti’s degree to (right) June Northcroft Grant, who received it on behalf of her ancestor, Mākereti.
A group photo of Mākereti’s family and guests taken inside the Sheldonian Theatre.
(Right) Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, speaks with Mākereti’s family and guests in the Sheldonian Theatre after the graduation ceremony.
(From right to left) A photo of Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and June Northcroft Grant, who received it on behalf of Mākereti.
(Left) June Northcroft Grant speaks with other guests in the Sheldonian Theatre after the graduation ceremony.
A photo of June Northcroft Grant’s granddaughter, great-nieces and great-nephews taken in the Sheldonian Theatre after the graduation ceremony, representing multiple generations of Mākereti’s family.
(From left to right) Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, speaks with Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku after the graduation ceremony.
(From left to right) A photo of Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku.
June Northcroft Grant, who received the certificate on behalf of Mākereti, joins other guests for a group photo in the Sheldonian Theatre after the graduation ceremony.
Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, joins Mākereti’s family and guests for a group photo in the Sheldonian Theatre after the graduation ceremony.
(Right) Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, speaks with (left) June Northcroft Grant, who received the certificate on behalf of Mākereti.
A photo of (left) Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku and a representative of Mākereti’s tribe.
Graduation ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre

Professor Irene Tracy, Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford, referenced Mākereti’s story and scholarship in her opening speech to the graduation ceremony. She celebrated Mākereti as a ‘truly remarkable woman’ and particularly acknowledged her academic achievements at a time when very few women received degrees. 

In a special addition to the ceremony, June was invited forward to accept Mākereti’s degree from the Vice Chancellor. This was a highly unusual change to the standard graduation proceedings, recognising the significance of the occasion and the impact of Mākereti’s work.

The majority of visitors from Aotearoa watched the ceremony via livestream in the lecture theatre at the Natural History Museum, marking the occasion with the performance of a haka. 

It was an incredibly emotional atmosphere; both an expression of celebration of Mākereti’s achievement, and of grief at her tragic death just weeks before she was due to present her thesis. 

 

A photo of Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, June Northcroft Grant and her granddaughter, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Visitors from Aotearoa attending the Māori remembrance ceremony held at the Natural History Museum.
A representative of Mākereti’s tribe delivering a speech in the Māori remembrance ceremony.
Visitors from Aotearoa attending the Māori remembrance ceremony held at the Natural History Museum.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, singing in the Māori remembrance ceremony.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing a traditional Māori chant to welcome Mākereti’s spirit and her family during the Māori remembrance ceremony held at the Natural History Museum.
June Northcroft Grant holding Mākereti’s degree certificate.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe share warm hugs after the Māori remembrance ceremony.
Visitors from Aotearoa attending the Māori remembrance ceremony held at the Natural History Museum.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, singing in the Māori remembrance ceremony.
(Left) June Northcroft Grant, who received the award on behalf of her ancestor Mākereti, and (middle) Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku attending the Māori remembrance ceremony held at the Natural History Museum.
June Northcroft Grant
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe deliver speeches in the Māori remembrance ceremony.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing a traditional Māori chant to welcome Mākereti’s spirit and her family during the Māori remembrance ceremony held at the Natural History Museum.
Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku giving a speech to visitors from Aotearoa at the Natural History Museum.
Visitors from Aotearoa, who watched the graduation ceremony via livestream at the Natural History Museum, greeted Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku as she joined them after the ceremony.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing a traditional Māori chant to welcome Mākereti’s spirit and her family during the Māori remembrance ceremony held at the Natural History Museum.
A representative of Mākereti’s tribe delivering a speech in the Māori remembrance ceremony.
June Northcroft Grant, who received the award on behalf of her ancestor Mākereti, is pictured with Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku and visitors from Aotearoa.
A photo of June Northcroft Grant and her granddaughter, great-nieces and great-nephews taken in the Natural History Museum after the Māori remembrance ceremony.
Visitors from Aotearoa, who watched the graduation ceremony via livestream at the Natural History Museum, greeted Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku as she joined them after the ceremony.

The group from the Sheldonian Theatre were welcomed back to the Natural History Museum for a Māori remembrance ceremony, after being led through the museum while participating in a call and response song.

The ceremony featured a karanga (a traditional Māori chant or call honouring the dead) welcoming their spirit and whānau (family) and a haka pōwhiri (a ritual of acknowledgement), as well as speeches and musical performances from representatives of Mākereti’s iwi (tribe), Tūhourangi.   

Professor Clare Harris, Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, delivering a speech at the reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku giving a speech at the reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
One of Mākereti’s family members giving a warm hug to Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances in the hall of the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Guests attending the reception at the Hall of Pitt Rivers Museum.
A guest delivering a speech at the reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Professor Laura Van Broekhoven, Director of the Pitt Rivers Museum, delivering a speech at the reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs in the hall of the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Professor Laura Van Broekhoven, Director of the Pitt Rivers Museum, delivering a speech at the reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Nikau Grace, June’s granddaughter, performing songs at the reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Members of the Tūhourangi iwi performing songs at the reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Professor Irene Tracy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, giving a speech at the reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Guests moved to a reception at the Pitt Rivers Museum where speeches were given by Professor Irene Tracey (Vice-Chancellor), Professor Clare Harris (Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography), Professor Laura Van Broekhoven (Director of the Pitt Rivers Museum) and Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku. 

Songs were performed by June’s grand-daughter Nikau Grace and members of the Tūhourangi iwi, who also presented gifts.

Dinner at St Anne's College was accompanied by further amazing performances from Tūhourangi members, as well as speeches from others in the Māori community. Many of these were received with Māori songs of appreciation and thanks. 

As a special touch, the menu cards on the tables were decorated with different portraits of Mākereti. 

Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
A representative of Māori community delivering a speech during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
A representative of Māori community delivering a speech during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
A menu card on the table decorated with portrait of Mākereti.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.
Representatives of Mākereti’s tribe, Tūhourangi, performing songs and dances during the dinner at St Anne’s College.