Associate Professor Linda Te Aho

Linda Te Aho, MNZM, (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Waikato-Tainui) is an Associate Professor in Te Piringa Faculty of Law and in 2025 was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and to Legal Education. Linda has long served as the Associate Dean Māori for the law faculty, and more recently for the newly created Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences. An experienced governor, Linda continues to hold senior governance positions for the large iwi organisation, Waikato-Tainui (Te Arataura) and is a member of the Institute of Directors. As a guardian appointed by Waikato-Tainui under the landmark settlement for the co-management of the Waikato River ecosystem, Linda was instrumental in developing the long term vision for the river's holistic restoration. Linda is a board member for the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board, overseeing the publication of histories of the 28th Māori Battalion and the development of curriculum resources, and the awarding of the prestigious Ngarimu VC scholarships. 

Linda co-edited Ngaa Kete Kaupapa, 2022, a collection of oral history of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura that contributes to the restoration and protection of te reo Māori and tikanga, which is increasingly recognised as being of vital importance to the cultural and legal fabric of Aotearoa. Linda was awarded the Judith Binney fellowship in 2023, which has assisted in producing publications relating to the history and experience of Ngaati Koroki Kahukura. 

Linda continues to serve as an assessor for MBIE funding grants with a specific focus on tikanga and Vision Mātauranga, and for Borrin Foundation grants and scholarships as a representative for Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (Centre for Research Excellence).