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Vincent Olsen-Reeder

Guest writer

Dr. Vini Olsen-Reeder (Ngā Pōtiki a Tamapahore, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Arawa) is an adjunct research fellow at Victoria University, specialising in sociolinguistics and language revival. He is a published historical fiction and fiction author, poet, songwriter and translator.

Elizabeth Rata. (Photo: Supplied; additional design The Spinoff)

Lost in translation: The real cost of a ‘knowledge-rich’ curriculum

Is it about education, or erasing inconvenient truths?

By Vincent Olsen-Reeder | 13th March, 2025

When a judge slaps down a lawyer for a few words of te reo, it’s about power

When a judge slaps down a lawyer for a few words of te reo, it’s about power

High Court judge Justice Timothy Brewer asked a lawyer if she was making a "political point" by using te reo Māori. Sociolinguist Vini Olsen-Reeder unpacks the bias underpinning those comments.

By Vincent Olsen-Reeder | 5th January, 2019

When a judge slaps down a lawyer for a few words of te reo, it’s about power

When a judge slaps down a lawyer for a few words of te reo, it’s about power

High Court judge Justice Timothy Brewer asked a lawyer if she was making a political point by introducing herself and her client in te reo Māori. Socio-linguist Vini Olsen-Reeder unpacks the bias underpinning those comments.

By Vincent Olsen-Reeder | 12th November, 2018

ROB THORNE (CENTRE) AND THE NEW ZEALAND STRING QUARTET

Rob Thorne is taking traditional Māori instruments into new worlds

Vincent Olsen-Reeder writes about collaborating with experimental Māori musician Rob Thorne and the New Zealand String Quartet, and the push and pull of multicultural exchange and taking traditional forms to new worlds.

By Vincent Olsen-Reeder | 10th April, 2018