Rate My Professor John Broughton

Emeritus Professor John Broughton, CNZM ED JP (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga), is a distinguished academic associated with the University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry and Department of Preventive and Social Medicine. He earned a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Otago in 1977 and practiced as a dental health surgeon from 1978. Between 1978 and 1989, he served as a part-time clinical supervisor and guest lecturer in the medical and dental schools. In 1989, he became a full-time Lecturer in Māori Health, tasked with developing the Hauora Māori curriculum for health professional courses. He established Te Whare Kaitiaki, a whānau dental clinic, in 1990, running it for over 25 years. In 1996, he founded and directed the Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit within the Centre for Hauora Māori. He completed his PhD in 2006 on ‘Oranga niho: A review of Māori oral health service provision utilizing a kaupapa Māori methodology’. Promoted to Professor in 2012, he also served as Associate Dean (Māori) for the Faculty of Dentistry and contributed to the University's Treaty of Waitangi Committee. He retired in 2020 and was awarded the Emeritus Professor title for his distinguished service.

Professor Broughton's research specializations encompass oranga niho (Māori oral health), hauora Māori aspects including hauora rangatahi, hauora wahine, kai paipa, and Māori injury prevention. He directed the International Collaborative Indigenous Health Research Partnership, funded by $2.3 million from the Health Research Council in 2010 to address chronic dental disease in Indigenous children. Key publications from his research unit include UKAIPO (stories of four generations of Māori women and childbirth), Puffing Up A Storm, and Injury to Māori, does it really have to be like this?, the latter launched in Parliament. He has integrated Hauora Māori and oranga niho into undergraduate dental curricula, coordinated clinical placements with Māori oral health providers, and supported Māori student associations. Additionally, he is a New Zealand Māori playwright, recipient of the Bruce Mason Playwright Award, with works such as Michael James Manaia, Te Hokinga Mai, Nga Puke, 1981, and The Private War of Corporal Cooper. His contributions earned him the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Otago in 2025.