معرفی
Phillip Borell serves as Senior Lecturer Above the Bar at the University of Canterbury's Aotahi School of Māori and Indigenous Studies since 2012, with teaching and research activities dating back to 2008. His academic journey includes an MA with Distinction (2013) and PhD (2022) from the University of Canterbury.
His research centers on Polynesian Masculinities, Polynesian Identities, Māori sporting practices, and Indigenous Methodologies. Borell critically examines dated narratives of Polynesian masculinity while advocating for sport as a platform for decolonial practice. His work bridges indigenous knowledge systems with contemporary social issues, particularly through the lens of rugby league as both cultural practice and political space.
Publication trends reveal a consistent focus on indigenous experiences in sports, evolving toward broader applications of decolonial frameworks. Recent works explore cultural names in professional sports (2024), family roles in athlete success (2025), and indigenous sustainability concepts (2024), demonstrating increasing interdisciplinary reach while maintaining core commitments to Māori and Pasifika perspectives.
- University of Canterbury Teaching Medal (2023)
- Early Career Research Award College of Arts (2015)
Borell actively supervises graduate research with 10 documented supervisees, including Karirā Allen's work on Māori/Pacific tertiary success and Aramoana Mohi's mokoia taiaha wānanga study. He holds the Whanau Tupato Waipiro grant (2024-2025) addressing alcohol-related harm reduction among Māori whānau. His professional engagement includes membership on the Human Research Ethics Committee since 2022 and extensive conference organization through the Māori Association of Social Sciences.
Through the Māui Lab initiative referenced in his 2017 lecture 'Whāia te ngākau œ Māui,' Borell develops collaborative spaces for indigenous knowledge application. His rugby league background as player, fan, and Canterbury Premier League trainer informs his community-engaged research approach.
