Emeritus Professor Bruce Biggs - MA

The late Professor Biggs graduated from Auckland University College in 1955 with a Master of Arts, after initially being appointed in 1952 to inaugurate the first class in Maori I at the College.

n 1957 Bruce completed a PhD at the University of Indiana, a leader in the field of linguistics. His book Structure of New Zealand Maori (1961) was the first detailed modern linguistic analysis of a Polynesian language. It was followed by his English-Maori Dictionary in 1966 and the best-selling Let's Learn Maori in 1969.

Bruce translated and edited works of Maori oral literature, working with Sidney Mead, Pat Hohepa and Pei Te Hurinui Jones. Virtually all of those who became leading figures in Maori Studies 1960 - 1990 studied under Bruce at the University.

Bruce received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001.