David Roy Simmons (6 September 1930 – 30 November 2015), also known as Rawiri Te Puru Terehou, was a New Zealand ethnologist, historian and author.

Early life and family

Born in Auckland on 6 September 1930, Simmons was educated at Sacred Heart College, Auckland. He went on to study at Auckland Teachers' College from 1948 to 1950, Auckland University College from 1949 to 1950, and Victoria University College in 1951. He then studied in France, at the

University of Paris The University of Paris (), known Metonymy, metonymically as the Sorbonne (), was the leading university in Paris, France, from 1150 to 1970, except for 1793–1806 during the French Revolution. Emerging around 1150 as a corporation associated wit ...

, the

École du Louvre The École du Louvre () is a selective institution of higher education and prestigious ''grande école'' located in the Aile de Flore of the Louvre Palace in Paris, France. It is dedicated to the study of archaeology, art history, anthropology ...

and the

University of Rennes The University of Rennes (French: ''Université de Rennes'') is a public university, public research university located in Rennes, Upper Brittany, France. Originally founded in 1460, the university was split into two universities in 1970: Univers ...

, gaining two diplomas, before returning to Auckland where he graduated with a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Those admitted to the degree have ...

degree in 1962. In 1955, Simmons married Winifred Mary Harwood, and the couple went on to have two children.

Career

From 1962 to 1968, Simmons was the keeper in anthropology at

Otago Museum Otago (, ; ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government region. Its po ...

in Dunedin. He was appointed as the ethologist at the Auckland Institute and Museum in 1968, and became the assistant director of

Auckland War Memorial Museum The Auckland War Memorial Museum (), also known as Auckland Museum, is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its neoclassical architecture, neoclassical building constructed in the 1920s and 1950s, stands on Observatory ...

in 1978, serving in that role until 1986. Simmons was a co-curator and a member of the organising committee for the international exhibition '' Te Maori'', which toured the United States and New Zealand from 1984 to 1987. Simmons also contributed to the exhibition's catalogue. He served as a council member of the Otago Institute, the Polynesian Society and the New Zealand Archaeological Association, and as secretary of the Umupuia Marae Trust. Simmons wrote many books relating to

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

art, culture and history, including: * ''The Maori Hei-tiki'' (1966) with Henry Devenish Skinner * ''The Great New Zealand Myth'' (1976) * ''Tā Moko'' (1986) * ''Whakairo'' (1994) He is credited with effectively demolishing Percy Smith's "

great fleet Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" * Artel Great (bo ...

" hypothesis. Simmons also edited: * J.D.H. Buchanan's ''The Māori History and Place Names of Hawke's Bay'' (1973) *

George Graham George Graham (born 30 November 1944) is a Scottish former football player and manager. Nicknamed "Stroller", he made 455 appearances in England's Football League as a midfielder or forward for Aston Villa, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester Unite ...

's ''Maori Place Names of Auckland'' (first published 1980).

Honours and awards

In 1978, Simmons received the Elsdon Best Memorial Medal. In the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, for services to ethnology and the Māori people, and in 2013 he was awarded the Auckland Museum Medal and appointed an associate emeritus of Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Later life and death

Simmons lived in the Auckland suburb of

Remuera Remuera is an affluent suburb in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located four kilometres southeast of the city centre. Remuera is characterised by many large houses, often Edwardian era, Edwardian or mid 20th century. A prime example of a "leafy ...

, and died on 30 November 2015. His ashes were buried at Purewa Cemetery in Auckland with those of his wife, Winifred Simmons, who predeceased him in 2003.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, David 1930 births 2015 deaths People educated at Sacred Heart College, Auckland Victoria University of Wellington alumni University of Auckland alumni University of Paris alumni University of Rennes alumni New Zealand ethnologists 20th-century New Zealand historians New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire Writers from Auckland 20th-century New Zealand male writers People associated with the Auckland War Memorial Museum Burials at Purewa Cemetery