Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal (B.Mus(Hons), M.Phil, PhD) is a composer, writer and researcher. He uses his extensive research skills and experience to inform his creativity which involves traditional Māori knowledge or mātauranga Māori.
In the period 1996 to 2002, Charles was Director of Graduate Studies and Research at Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa, Ōtaki (a Māori operated centre of higher learning). During that time, Charles was Kaihautū (convenor) of a graduate programme in mātauranga Māori or Māori Knowledge where he conducted a large amount of research into theories of knowledge and worldview. (This programme was delivered in the Māori language.)
Charles has written and/or edited five books (on Māori song poetry, research and tribal history) and in 2001 was New Zealand Senior Fulbright Scholar where he conducted research into indigenous worldviews in the United States (Hawai'i and New Mexico) and Canada. In October 2004, Charles took up a research residency at the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Study and Conference Center, Bellagio, Italy.
Charles belongs to the Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngā Puhi peoples and holds degrees from Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University. Charles was awarded a doctorate in 1998 by Victoria University.
Charles's personal website is
here.