Anne Salmond is one of this country's best known cross cultural travellers. She's an anthropologist who has drawn to the discipline by an interest in the Māori world and language.
When she was a teenager studying at Auckland University, she met Eruera and Amiria Stirling, elders of Te Whanau-a-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, and they became her mentors. The "old people" as she calls the pair, took her to the hui which would form the foundation for her academic research, and her first book, on these ceremonial gatherings which are at the heart of Māori culture.
Other publications followed abour the life stories of Amiria and Eruera, and the early encounters between Māori and Pakeha.
Anne was made a Dame for services to New Zealand history in 1995, and she's currently Professor of Social Anthropology and Māori studies at Auckland University.
When she thinks back to childhood days, Anne remembers poring over a suitcase full of papers, sketches and Photographs made by her great-grandfather James McDonald - a photographer and film maker who worked at the Dominion Museum early last century. It was here that her own passion for things Māori sparked.
In the programme she talks about how she became interested inthings Māori; about hui she attended with Eruera and Amiria Stirling; how Pakeha and Māori culture are inter-twined; the importance of the relationships between both cultures being ingood heart; accepting your ancestors warts and all, and not continually apologising/feeling guilty; the importance of being accountable to those involved in research (talks about presenting work back to Māori for their review before proceeding).