Dr Peter J Keegan

Biography

Peter was born and raised in Taranaki (West Coast, North Island, New Zealand). He has been living in Auckland (New Zealand) since December 2000.

He pepeha (tribal proverb)

Ko Pirongia te maunga
Ko Waipā te awa

Ko Waikato-Maniapoto te iwi

Ko Ngāti Apakura te iwi
Ko Pūrekireki Wīwī te marae

Research | Current

Peter's interests include language structure and use, measurement (including Item Response Theory), assessment and language testing, (especially in Māori and indigenous language education contexts), language documentation and conservation. He focuses on quantitative approaches to research and data. He undertakes research on changes in the structure of Māori language and efforts to revitalize Māori and indigenous languages, in educational and community contexts. He is also interested in the achievement of Māori and minority students, and Māori/indigenous literatures.

Major Research Projects

2004-2021 MAONZE (Māori New Zealand English)

Along with Dr Catherine Watson (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering), Dr Jeanette King and Dr Margaret Maclagan (University of Canterbury) Dr Ray Harlow and many others. The project examines changes in the pronunciation of Māori and New Zealand English over time. It has been supported by two Marsden fund grants.

2015-2021 Māori Pronunciation Tool: A System for Providing Feedback on Spoken Māori (MPAi)

Along with Dr Catherine Watson (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering) and others. The project involves developing and trialling a prototype computer-based Māori pronunciation tool that provides users with real-time feedback on their own pronunciation of Māori vowels and words. We undertook trials in November/December 2015 late 2016 and mid-2017, analysed the results and then undertook a further trial in late 2019.

Other Projects

Peter contributes to research projects in the Faculty of Engineering and the Liggins Institute.

Teaching | Current

Semester One 2021  EDUC 114 (Lecturer, Course Coordinator)

                                 EDUCM 321 (Tutor)

Postgraduate supervision

Current PhD Supervision

• Shields, Isabella. Sound Change of /r/ in te reo Māori, with Associate Professor Catherine Watson.
• Zhang, Tiancheng. Using Cognitive Diagnostic Assessment to understand and improve the DELNA listening assessment task, with Associate Professor Rosemary Erlam.
• Ji, Di. Family Language Policy and its relevance to Chinese Heritage Language Maintenance in New Zealand, with Professor Stephen May.
• Teh, David.  An Additive, Dynamic & Usage-Based Multilingual Approach (ADUMA) To English Language Teaching in Malaysia, with Professor Stephen May.
• Yan, Yuan. Bilingual Education of Mandarin and Dong in Southwest China: Policies, Practices and Attitudes, with Professor Stephen May.

Responsibilities

Kaiarahi (Advisor) Vision Mātauranga, Faculty of Education and Social Work

Director of Assessment in te reo Māori, Faculty of Education and Social Work

Areas of expertise

• Interests include measurement (including Item Response Theory), assessment and language testing, especially in Māori and indigenous language education contexts. Focuses on quantitative approaches to research and data. Undertakes research on changes in the structure of Māori language and efforts to revitalize Māori and indigenous languages, in educational and community contexts. Also interested in the achievement of Māori and minority students.

• The structure of Māori language, especially changes in modern contexts such as home, schooling and community
• Also interested in Māori narratives, Māori literature (both in English and Māori)

Committees/Professional groups/Services

Faculty of Education and Social Work Liberal Arts Committee

Faculty of Education and Social Work Research Committee

Faculty of Education Staffing Committee

Te Puna Wānanga Research and Postgraduate Committee