Madi Williams

Madi Williams is a Senior Lecturer at the Aotahi School of Maori and Indigenous Studies within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Canterbury, a position held since July 2021. Her work bridges Indigenous scholarship with historical research, focusing on Te Waipounamu iwi histories and the Global Middle Ages through a Polynesian lens.

Education

• PhD in History, University of Canterbury (2017-2021)

Williams specializes in oral traditions, myth, and premodern Polynesian societies, challenging Eurocentric historical frameworks through comparative analysis of Māori knowledge systems and medieval Europe. Her research actively engages with decolonial methodologies and contemporary social justice issues, particularly sovereignty and anti-racism.

Her recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate interdisciplinary convergence across history, law, and environmental studies. Key trends include applying Māori perspectives to global historical narratives, examining colonial legacies in legal/fiscal systems, and redefining 'medieval' through Pacific epistemologies—positioning Polynesia as integral to global medieval studies.

Advising and Professional Engagement
Williams supervises Master's/Doctoral research including Marino, Jo (Māori nursing history); Rose, Xanthe (Tasman commemoration); and Hampton, Georgia (Ngāi Tahu intermarriage). She serves on the New Zealand Historical Association (2023-2024), New Zealand Journal of History Management Board (2023-2024), and Ngāti Koata's Tuku Book Committee (2023).