Mason Durie (Rangitane, Ngati Kauwhata, Ngati Raukawa) is Professor of Psychiatry, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Maori and Pasifika) and Professor of Maori Research and Development at Massey University. For forty years, he has been at the forefront of the changing approach to Maori health and been a leader in developments in mental health, and in 2010 he was knighted for services to Maori health and public health services. He is also a leader in higher education for Maori and Maori development and regularly assists iwi and Maori communities to realise their aspirations for socioeconomic advancement. As well as his academic posts, he has served on various organisations, including the boards of Te Papa and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology and has been a Commissioner for the New Zealand Families Commission and chaired the Ministerial Taskforce on Whanau Ora. He has published widely and regularly presents addresses and papers at national and international conferences