Rose Parker was born in Waipiro Bay and was educated at Hiruharama Native School, Ngata Memorial College, Queen Victoria School and Auckland Girls’ Grammar. She graduated with a B.A. from Auckland University and studied at Christchurch Teachers’ College. She completed an M.A. in Māori Studies and Sociology at the University of Canterbury. She has worked as a primary school teacher and in 1986 was appointed to the University of Canterbury as the first lecturer in bicultural studies in a New Zealand university, a position she held until 1998. Concurrent with her university teaching, Parker engaged in research on the politics of exclusion for a Ph.D thesis. Her 1998 publication He Waka Eke Noa is a model for covenant bicultural relationships in New Zealand and the Pacific. It was printed by the General Synod of the Anglican Church in April 1998. He Waka Eke Noa was written for theological and educational training in the Anglican Church of New Zealand and the Pacific. Parker has written many non-fiction papers.
Biographical sources
- Interviews with Rose Parker throughout the 1990s.
Non-fiction
- "Citizens or Consumers? The Politics of Educational Reform: An Introduction." Towards Successful Schooling. Eds. Hugh Lauder and Cathy Wylie. London, U.K.: Falmer, 1990. 1-13.
- Co-authored with Hugh Lauder and Cathie Wylie.
- "Institutional Racism: The Logic Of Domination." Māori Law Bulletin Oct. 1991: 1-5.
Other
- "Interview of Rose Parker-Taunoa." Ruth Jones. Race Gender Class 7 (July 1988): 44-49.
- Parker discusses her work as lecturer in Bi-cultural Studies in the Education Department of the University of Canterbury, the implications of being the only Māori woman on the University staff [at that time] and the support of her whanau.
- Topp, Chris. "First For Ngāti Porou Woman." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 9 (May 1988): 20.
Papers/Presentations
- "Structural Analysis of Māori Education." Higher Education Research and Development Association of Australasia Conf. Palmerston North, N.Z. Nov. 1988.
- "Tino Rangātiratanga: What Are The Main Issues?" Natl. CCLANZ Conf. Christchurch, N.Z.: Dec. 1990.
- "Mana Wahine: Being a Māori Woman at the University." No details.
- Presented for the 1991 International Women’s Day.
Reviews
- "Race, Gender, Class." Te Karanga: Canterbury Māori Studies Association 1.3 (Nov. 1985): 18-20.
- Parker reviews the first edition of Race Gender Class which was published in July 1985.
Other
- Erai, Michelle, Fuli, Everdina, Irwin, Kathie and Wilcox, Lenaire. Māori Women: An Annotated Bibliography. [Wellington, N.Z.]: Michelle Erai, Everdina Fuli, Kathie Irwin and Lenaire Wilcox, 1991. 24.