Miria Simpson was born in Whakatane and was educated at Te Paroa Native School, Queen Victoria School and Whakatane District High School. She was a teacher at ōmarumutu School in Ōpōtiki and Horohoro School in Rotorua. Later she became medical secretary and receptionist at Patea and Hawera Hospitals. From 1957-1970, she was librarian’s secretary at Victoria University of Wellington. Following this, she went on a working holiday to London. On her return to New Zealand, Miria was appointed research assistant in the Centre for Māori Studies and Research at Waikato University from She then took up an appointment as Editor Wahanga Māori on the staff of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography from In 1990 she was appointed Māori Language Consultant at Alexander Turnbull Library and in 1993 became a member of the Māori Language Commission. In 1995 she took up a part-time appointment with the project team for the Historical Atlas of New Zealand: Ko Papatuanuku e takoto nei. Miria wrote non-fiction work, edited various publications, and wrote a playlet, Kimihia Mai Taku Mokopuna, which was performed on television. She edited He Waiata Onamata: Songs from the Past, a series of Moteatea from early tape recordings collected by Brad Haami, Whai Ngata and Henare Te Ua which have been reproduced on compact discs with an accompanying booklet containing the Māori text and English interpretation.
Biographical sources
- Interview and phone conversations with Miria Simpson in May 1993 and August 1998.
Non-fiction
- "Harakeke Weaving School." Te Ao Hou 65 (1968/69): 30+.
- Miria Simpson writes about the very successful weaving school held in August 1968 at St Mark’s Church School, Wellington with Cath Brown as tutor.
- Index: Haere ki o Koutou Tipuna: He Poroporoaki: Obituaries 1952 to 1983. Comp. Miria Simpson. Centre for Māori Studies and Research, U of Waikato Occasional Paper No. 22. [Hamilton], N.Z.: Centre for Māori Studies and Research, U. of Waikato, 1984.
- Miria Simpson writes that this ‘is an index of names taken from Obituary Notes published under the headings ‘Haere ki o Koutou Tipuna’ and ‘He Poroporoaki’ in the magazines Te Ao Hou, Te Māori, Te Kaea and Tu tangata from 1952 to 1983.’
- "Section Four: He WhakaMāoritanga." Rapuora: Health and Māori Women. Elizabeth Murchie. Wellington, N.Z.: Māori Women’s Welfare League, 1984. 95-106.
- This fourth section of Rapuora: Health and Māori Women, written in te reo Māori contains information drawn from the Rapuora research ‘likely to be of special interest to Māori and other readers of the language.’
- "Te Hura Te Taiwhakaripi, 1861-1866." The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ed. W. H. Oliver. Vol. 1. 1769-1869. Wellington, N.Z.: Allen & Unwin/Dept. of Internal Affairs, 1990. 453-454. Rpt. in Nga Tangata Taumata Rau: 1769-1869. Wellington, N.Z.: Allen & Unwin, Te Tari Taiwhenua, 1990. 196-199. Rpt. in The People of Many Peaks: the Māori Biographies from Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Vol. 1. Wellington, N.Z.: Bridget Williams, Dept. of Internal Affairs, 1991. 177-180.
- Co-authored with S. M. Mead.
- Nga Tohu O Te Tiriti: Making a Mark. Wellington, N.Z.: National Library of New Zealand, 1990.
- A record of the signatures on the Treaty of Waitangi which provides clear identification of the 538 signatories.
- "Te Whānau O Wikitōria: 1957-1970: Delightful Years at VUW." Redbrick and Bluestocking: Women at Victoria 1899-1993. Ed. Beryl Hughes and Sheila Ahern. Wellington, N.Z.: Victoria UP, 1993. 118-129.
- An autobiographical article of Miria Simpson’s twelve and a half year’s working at Victoria University as librarian’s secretary and as mentor to numerous Māori students.
Other
- Mauao: Nga Tuhituhinga A Te Rangatahi O Tauranga Mo Nga Ahuatanga O Ta Ratou Noho I Te Marae O Huria I Te Whare Tipuna I A Tamateapokaiwhenua: A Collection Of Writings By Young People Of Tauranga Expressing Their Thoughts On A Seminar Held At Judea Marae In The Ancestral House, Tamateapokaiwhenua. Comp. and ed. Miria Simpson. Hamilton, N.Z.: Rice Printers, 1982.
- A collection of poetry, prose and art work by students of Maunganui, Otumoetai and Tauranga Girls’ Colleges describing their marae experience with Arnold Wilson’s Cross Cultural Community Involvement Programmes.
- "E te iwi, Huri noa te Motu - Tena Koutou!" Tu Tangata 32 (Oct/Nov 1986): 21.
- He Rourou Iti: Selected Speeches Of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. Ed. and introd. Miria Simpson. Wellington, N.Z.: Daphne Brasell, 1992.
- A collection of selected speeches by Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
- Te T˚matanga - Tātau Tātau: Early Stories From the Māori Women’s Welfare League: Te Rōpu Wāhine Māori Toko i Te Ora. As told to Dame Mira Szaszy. Ed. Anna Rogers and Miria Simpson (Wāhanga Māori). Photographs by Margaret Kāwharu. Wellington, N.Z.: Māori Women’s Welfare League; Bridget Williams, 1993.
- A collection of oral accounts in Māori and English by 66 founding members of the Māori Women’s Welfare League in conversation with Mira Szaszy and accompanied by photographs. Miria Simpson edited the Māori interviews and provides an introduction on her work as the editor, Wāhanga Māori.
- Te Puni Wāhine. Ed. Committee: Hana O’Regan, Carla na Nagara, Rangihuia Bargh, Manuka Henare, Atawhai Tibble, Tipene Crisp, and Miria Simpson. Te Whanganui-a-Tara [Wellington, N.Z].: Huia, 1994.
- This publication is composed of Māori language articles from Māori newspapers about Māori women in the decade of 1890-1900.
- He Pakiwaitara. Ed. Committee: Hana O’Regan, Carla na Nagara, Rangihuia Bargh, Manuka Henare, Atawhai Tibble, Tipene Crisp, and Miria Simpson. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1994.
- A collection of articles from Māori newspapers which were published in the decade of 1890-1900.
- Te Māreikura. Ed. Committee: Hana O’Regan, Carla na Nagara, Rangihuia Bargh, Manuka Henare, Atawhai Tibble, Tipene Crisp, and Miria Simpson. Te Whanganui-a-Tara [Wellington, N.Z.]: Huia, 1994.
- A reprinting of an issue of the Māori newspaper, Te Māreikura dated 1 August 1911.
- Bateman New Zealand Historical Atlas/Ko Papatuanuku e Takoto Nei. Auckland, N.Z.: Batemans, 1997.
- Miria Simpson was a member of the editorial staff that researched and produced this historical atlas of New Zealand.
Performing Arts
- Kimihia Mai Taku Mokopuna. [198?].
- A playlet which was performed on television in the 1980s and is to be published in the Te Ao Marama series.
Reviews
- "Books: Weaving Art." Rev. of Te Ah Tapu – The Sacred Thread: Traditional Māori Weaving, by Brian Brake. Listener 24 Oct. 1987: 77.
- "Our Own Inimitable Way." Rev. of Toi Wahine – The Worlds Of Māori Women, ed. Kathie Irwin and Irihapeti Ramsden. New Zealand Books 5.4 (Oct. 1995): 7.
Traditional
- He Waiata Onamata: Songs from the Past. Comp. Brad Haami, Wahi Ngata and Henare Te Ua. Ed. Miria Simpson. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1998.
- Miria Simpson edited this series of moteatea from early tape recordings which were compiled by Brad Haami, Whai Ngata and Henare Te Ua and were subsequently reproduced on two compact discs with an accompanying booklet containing the Māori text and English interpretation.
Visual Arts
- Rangiatea: Ko Ahau Te Huarahi Te Pono Me Te Ora. [Wellington, N.Z.]: National Library of New Zealand in partnership with Te Ropu Whakahaere o Rangiatea, 1997.
- Miria edited and did all the translation work for this book which accompanied the Rangiatea: Ko ahau te Huarahi te pono me te ora exhibition in the National Library in 1997.
Other
- "Dr Miria Simpson Retires." Tu Mai: Offering An Indigenous New Zealand perspective 34 (June 2002): 25.
- "Five fellowships awarded; Three Letters Of Recognition Awarded; New Awards Of Merit; 11 Associateships Awarded." Library Life 250 (Oct 2000): 18-23.
- "Language ‘Identity’ Rewarded." Pu Kaea Feb 1999: 9.
- "Linguists Honour Maori Scholar." Te Maori News: Maori Weekly Newspaper 19 Oct 1998: 3.
- "Maori Language Matriarch Retires." Pu Kaea June 2002: 12.
- Ngaropō, Pouroto. "Poroporoaki: Nana I Whakamiria a ‘Eruera Manuera’; An Honour Thoroughly Deserved." Pu Kaea (Aug./Sept. 2002): 3-4.
- Te Kani, Tokorua. "Award Recognises Excellence." Gisborne Herald 26 March 1998: Supp.10.
- Berry, Ruth. "Enthusiast Was Also A Fierce Protector Of Maori Language." Evening Post 13 June 2002: 9.
- "He Maimai Aroha." Mana: the Maori news magazine for all New Zealanders 47 (Aug./Sept. 2002): 4-7.
- Moi, John. "Ko Te Kuia O Te Reo." Library Life 269 (July 2002): 23.
Reviews
He Rourou Iti
- Ballara, Angela. "Aspects of Māori History." New Zealand Books 2.2 (Sept. 1992): 8.
MAUAO: A Collection of Writings by Young People of Tauranga.
- Scott, Noel. Rev. of MAUAO: A Collection of Writings by Young People of Tauranga. Tu Tangata 9 (Dec./Jan. 1983): 26.
Nga Tohu o te Tiriti: Making A Mark
- Hemara, Wharehuia (and others). "Books and Book Reviews." Archifacts (Oct. 1991): 84-97.
- Parekowhai, Cushla. "The Quest For A National Identity." Dominion 19 Jan. 1991: 9.
- Petrie, Hazel. New Zealand Genealogist 22.210 (July/Aug. 1991): 258.
Te Tīmatanga - Tātau Tātau
- Yates-Smith, Aroha. Rev. of Te Timatanga Tatau Tatau: Early Stories From Founding Members Of The Māori Women’s Welfare League, by Mira Szaszy, ed. Anna Rogers and Miria Simpson. New Zealand Journal of History 28.2 (Oct. 1994): 222-223.
Te T˚matanga - Tātau Tātau
- Cook, Walter and Hepora Young. "Books." Sunday Times 7 Nov. 1993: 22.
- Harte, Helen, Rangimarie Hakaraia and Anya Mountain Hook. Rev. of Te Timatanga Tatau Tatau: Early Stories From Founding Members Of The Māori Women’s Welfare League, ed. Anna Rogers and Miria Simpson. Oral History in New Zealand 8/9 (1996/1997): 54-55.
- Jones, Lawrence (and others). "Books." Evening Post 26 June 1992: 5.
- Ward, Alan. "Distinct But Not Separate." Dominion 30 May 1992: 11.
- Weir, Jim et al. "Books." Evening Post 17 Dec. 1993: 5.