{{short description|New Zealand educator (1939–2022)}} {{For|the TV character|Toby Curtis (Scorpion)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Sir Toby Curtis | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=NZL|KNZM|size=100%}} | image = File:Toby Curtis KNZM investiture (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Curtis in 2014 | birth_name = Noble Thomson Curtis | birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|11|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Rotoehu, New Zealand | death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|08|17|1939|11|13|df=y}} | death_place = Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand | spouse = {{Marriage|Mary Agnes Sharry|1966}} | relatives = Cliff Curtis (nephew) | occupation = Educator }}
'''Sir Noble Thomson''' "'''Toby'''" '''Curtis''' {{Post-nominals|country=NZL|KNZM}} (13 November 1939 – 17 August 2022) was a New Zealand educator and Māori leader.
==Early life and family== Born at Rotoehu on 13 November 1939, Curtis was of Māori descent, and affiliated to Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Rongomai in the Te Arawa confederation.<ref name="Whos who"/><ref name="Rotorua Daily Post 2013">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/new-year-honours-sir-toby-curtis/VPXTHX5EX4YXHZV6HFPXEE225M/ |first=Matthew |last=Martin |title=New Year honours: Sir Toby Curtis |date=31 December 2013 |work=Rotorua Daily Post |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> He was educated by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart at St Michael's school, Rotorua, and St Peter's Maori College in Auckland.<ref name="Whos who"/> In 1966, he married Mary Agnes Sharry, and the couple went on to have four children.<ref name="Whos who">{{Cite journal |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Alister |editor-link=Alister Taylor |title=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 |journal=New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa |year=2001 |publisher=Alister Taylor Publishers |location=Auckland |issn=1172-9813 |page=261}}</ref> He was the uncle of actor Cliff Curtis.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/our-people-toby-curtis/VRD4XIXT7ZR62IGXJ75NKHDKTY/ |title=Our people: Toby Curtis |date=8 December 2013 |work=Rotorua Daily Post |first=Jill |last=Nicholas |access-date=5 November 2020}}</ref>
Curtis played representative rugby union for Counties and {{rut|Bay of Plenty}}.<ref name="Whos who"/>
==Education career== Curtis studied at Ardmore Teachers' College and the University of Auckland, graduating with a Diploma of Teaching in 1972, and a Master of Arts degree in 1980.<ref name="Whos who"/> His master's thesis was titled ''Independent Maori boarding schools: continue or discontinue''.<ref>{{Cite thesis |url=https://catalogue.library.auckland.ac.nz/permalink/f/t37c0t/uoa_alma21159376690002091 |title=Independent Maori boarding schools: continue or discontinue |last=Curtis |first=Noble Thomson |publisher=University of Auckland |year=1980 |type=MA |access-date=5 November 2020}}</ref> He later completed a PhD at the University of Auckland in 2005, titled ''An investigation of how Hawaiki knowledge is fundamental for Maori leadership'', in which he sought to contribute to more authentic traditional knowledge in modern Māori society and to discussion of Māori leadership.<ref>{{Cite thesis |url=https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/3238 |title=An investigation of how Hawaiki knowledge is fundamental for Maori leadership |year=2005 |publisher=University of Auckland |access-date=5 November 2005 |last=Curtis |first=N. T. |type=PhD}}</ref>
After working as a primary school teacher and with intellectually disabled students, Curtis was principal of his old high school, which had changed its name to Hato Petera College, and vice principal of Auckland Teachers' College during the 1980s. He was director of primary teacher education at Auckland College of Education and then dean of the education faculty at Auckland Institute of Technology during the 1990s, becoming deputy vice chancellor at Auckland University of Technology in 2000. He was appointed chair of the Iwi Education Authority for Ngā Kura-ā-Iwi o Aotearoa (tribal immersion schools) in 2012. He has also served on the council of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.<ref name="Rotorua Daily Post 2013"/>
==Other activities== In the late 1980s, Curtis was chair of the Māori broadcasting advisory committee, leading to the formation of Aotearoa Radio, iwi radio stations, and Māori Television. In 1997, he was appointed chair of Te Māngai Pāho (the Māori Broadcast Funding Agency).<ref name="Rotorua Daily Post 2013"/>
Curtis chaired the Te Arawa Lakes Trust, and was a member of the Iwi Chairs Forum.<ref name="Rotorua Daily Post 2013"/> He also served on the police commissioner's Māori Focus Forum.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/māori-and-police/māori-and-police-working-together |title=Māori and Police working together |publisher=New Zealand Police |access-date=5 November 2020}}</ref>
Curtis died at his home on Lake Rotoiti on 17 August 2022, at the age of 82.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/473011/sir-toby-curtis-te-arawa-leader-and-maori-education-advocate-dies-at-83 |title=Sir Toby Curtis, Te Arawa leader and Māori education advocate, dies at 83 |first=Jamie |last=Tahana |date=17 August 2022 |work=RNZ News |access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref>
==Honours== In the 2014 New Year Honours, Curtis was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori education.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2014 | title=New Year honours list 2014 |date=31 December 2013 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | access-date=5 November 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0193525}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Curtis, Toby}} Category:1939 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit Category:New Zealand educators Category:Ngāti Pikiao people Category:Ngāti Rongomai people Category:People educated at Hato Petera College, Auckland Category:People educated at John Paul College, Rotorua Category:People from the Bay of Plenty Region Category:Auckland College of Education alumni Category:University of Auckland alumni Category:Academic staff of the Auckland College of Education Category:Academic staff of the Auckland University of Technology