Professor John Moorfield (1943-2018) held a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland, a Master of Education from the University of Wales, and a Doctor of Literature from the University of Otago. He also held RSA/Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults. On completing his teacher education at Auckland Secondary Teachers’ College, John taught in secondary schools for eight years at Ngāruawāhia High School, Wesley College and Tuakau College, before moving to the University of Waikato in 1976 to teach Māori. In 1997, after 21 years at the University of Waikato, he became a professor in the School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies of the University of Otago. In 2007, John moved to the Auckland University of Technology, where he continued his research into te reo Māori and language revitalisation within Te Ipukarea Research Institute, until he passed in 2018. John, affectionately known by many in the Māori community as Te Murumāra, is the author of the respected Te Whanake series of Māori-language texts as well as the accompanying Te Whanake online digital resources. John also created Te Aka Māori Dictionary, the most widely used online Māori dictionary and app.

Rachael Ka‘ai-Mahuta Associate Professor Rachael Ka‘ai-Mahuta (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu) is based in Te Ipukarea Research Institute at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). She holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (First Class) and a Master of Arts (with Distinction) from the University of Otago, and a Doctorate from AUT. She is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo (Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language) and holds the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) Certificate of Competency in Interpreting and Translating the Māori Language. A lifelong Māori-language student, Rachael was mentored by and worked closely with Professor John Moorfield until he passed away. She is part of the Te Murumāra Foundation, the team that continues the work that is John's legacy.