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Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal (B.Mus(Hons), M.Phil, PhD) is a composer and researcher. He uses his composition and research skills and experience to explore 'the creative potential of indigenous knowledge'. His abiding interest lies with ways in which indigenous knowledge might find new expressions and applications today. His particular interests lie with the use of indigenous knowledge in theatre and performing arts (the subject of his doctoral study) and with exploring the use of indigenous knowledge in the creation of knowledge through research.
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.)
As a researcher, 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. Here he began writing a new book on indigenous knowledge.
As a composer, Charles has recently returrned to formal composition following an absence of a decade where he focused exclusively on the study of indigenous knowledge. Prior to this, Charles composed short works for orchestra and chamber pieces. His Te Arikinui for tenor, strings and percussion was performed at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre in 2004. Charles has most recently been composing through Ōrotokare: Art, Story, Motion, an theatre and performing arts organisation he founded in 2004. He completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours in 1989 and studied composition with David Farquhar, Jack Body and Ross Harris.
Charles belongs to the Ngāti Raukawa, Marutūahu 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 has previously been chair of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, a member of the board of Fulbright New Zealand, a member of the Māori Heritage Council of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, a m
ember of The Oxygen Group and Chair of the
Vision Mātauranga Advisory Group (both groups convened by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology). Currently, Charles is a trustee of SOUNZ New Zealand Music Centre.
On the 1st of December, 2009, Charles will commence a new appointment as Professor of Indigenous Development in the Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland, and Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, one of New Zealand's nine centres of research excellence hosted by the University of Auckland. (see www.maramatanga.ac.nz)
Download a brief CV
here
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