Te Arikinui Dame Joan Metge is a prominent New Zealand anthropologist and writer, known for her significant contributions to the understanding of Māori culture and society. Born in 1930, she has dedicated much of her career to researching and documenting the complexities of Māori traditions, language, and social structures. Her work has been influential in bridging the gap between Māori and Pākehā (European New Zealanders) perspectives. Throughout her life, Dame Joan has received numerous accolades for her efforts, including being appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She has authored several important publications, such as Pākehā and Māori and Talking Past Each Other, which explore the dynamics of cross-cultural communication in New Zealand.