David Roy Simmons
Rawiri Te Puru Terehou
David Roy Simmons was one of New Zealand's foremost ethnologists and a dedicated scholar of Māori culture, art, and history. Over a career spanning more than two decades at the Otago Museum and Auckland War Memorial Museum, he reshaped scholarly understanding of Māori migration, tattooing, carving, and place names.
- Born
- 6 September 1930 · Auckland, New Zealand
- Died
- 30 November 2015
- Resting place
- Purewa Cemetery, Auckland
- Spouse
- Winifred Mary Harwood (m. 1955, d. 2003)
- Children
- Christopher, Nigel
- Grandchildren
- Luke, Jason, Michelle
- Residence
- Remuera, Auckland
Guardians of Polynesia
Recorded talk by David Simmons on Polynesian and Māori taonga.
Hosted on YouTube; loaded only when this page is opened. Click anywhere on the player to start.
Awards & honours
| Year | Honour | Body |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Elsdon Best Memorial Medal For outstanding contribution to Polynesian studies. |
Polynesian Society |
| 1985 | Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) For services to ethnology and the Māori people. |
Queen's Birthday Honours |
| 2013 | Auckland Museum Medal Awarded to 'an outstanding scholar and student of Māori art and culture'. |
Auckland War Memorial Museum |
| 2013 | Associate Emeritus Appointed in recognition of his lifelong contribution to the museum. |
Auckland War Memorial Museum |
Later publications
A few of the major works from the latter half of his career. See the complete list on the Works page.
Te Maori Exhibition
Te Hokinga Mai (The Coming Home)
Tā Moko: The Art of Māori Tattooing
Reed / Auckland War Memorial Museum
Iconography of New Zealand Maori Religion
E.J. Brill, Leiden
Māori Auckland
Bush Press
In this archive
About
Biographical essay — early life, study in Paris, career at Otago and Auckland museums, and scholarly legacy.
Timeline
A year-by-year record of key life, education, career, publication, and award events.
Works
Thirteen major publications and the Te Maori touring exhibition (1984–1987).
References
Family records, museum archives, obituaries, and the National Library catalogue.