Timeline
37 events across David Roy Simmons’s life — 1930 to 2015. Grouped chronologically; the event type chip indicates life, education, career, publication, scholarship, or award.
1930
Born in Auckland, New Zealand
life
1948
Attended Auckland Teachers' College
education
1949
Attended Auckland University College
education
1950
Graduated Auckland Teachers' College
education
1951
Attended Victoria University College, Wellington
education
1954
Attended École du Louvre, Paris
education
1955
Graduated Diplôme Supérieur des Études de Civilisation Française, Sorbonne
education
1955
Married Winifred Mary Harwood
life
1957
Graduated Diplôme des Études Celtiques, Université de Rennes
education
1958
Graduated BA, University College of Auckland
education
1959
Appointed Keeper in Anthropology, Otago Museum, Dunedin
career
1960
Graduated MA, University of Auckland
education
1966
Published The Māori Hei-tiki with Henry Devenish Skinner
publication
1968
Appointed Ethnologist, Auckland Institute and Museum
career
1969
Published landmark article demolishing the 'Great Fleet' hypothesis
scholarship
1972
Appointed Assistant Director, Auckland War Memorial Museum
career
1973
Edited Māori History and Place Names of Hawke's Bay
publication
1976
Published The Great New Zealand Myth
publication
1978
Awarded the Elsdon Best Memorial Medal
award
1979
Published Art of the Pacific with Brian Brake and James McNeish
publication
1982
Published A Catalogue of Māori Artefacts in the Museums of Canada and the USA
publication
1984
Co-curated Te Maori international touring exhibition
career
1985
Appointed MBE in Queen's Birthday Honours
award
1986
Retired from Auckland War Memorial Museum
career
1986
Published Tā Moko: The Art of Māori Tattooing
publication
1986
Published Iconography of New Zealand Maori Religion
publication
1987
Te Maori exhibition returned to New Zealand — 'Te Hokinga Mai'
career
1987
Published Māori Auckland
publication
1989
Published Maori Tattoo with Ko Te Riria
publication
1991
Published Ko Huiarau: The United Tribes of New Zealand and the Crown of England
publication
1994
Published Whakairo: Māori Tribal Art
publication
2001
Published The Carved Pare: A Māori Mirror of the Universe
publication
2003
Wife Winifred passed away
life
2013
Awarded the Auckland Museum Medal
award
2013
Appointed Associate Emeritus, Auckland War Memorial Museum
award
2014
Published Greater Māori Auckland (expanded edition)
publication
2015
Passed away in Auckland, aged 85
life
Legend
awardcareereducationlifepublicationscholarship
The canonical source for this timeline is a family-provided chronology supplemented by obituaries and museum records — see the References page.