Tributes flow for Emeritus Professor John Broughton, a leader in Māori health and theatre

Aotearoa is mourning the loss of a distinguished leader following the death of Emeritus Professor John Broughton CNZM on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. A renowned academic, playwright, and advocate, Broughton was a cornerstone of the University of Otago for more than four decades, leaving behind a legacy that bridges the worlds of healthcare and the creative arts. Broughton, of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga descent, served as a professor in the Department of Preventative and Social Medicine and as the associate dean Māori for the School of Dentistry. His work was pivotal in transforming medical education in New Zealand; he was responsible for introducing the hauora Māori curriculum into health professional courses and served as the inaugural director of the Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit. Following his retirement in 2020, he remained a fixture at the university, frequently providing the welcome for graduation ceremonies. In a statement released on Wednesday, University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson described Broughton’s contribution to dental healthcare and social medicine as immense. Robertson noted that the "ora" Broughton planted would continue to bloom through the many clinicians he taught and the pioneering research he conducted. For his services to Māori health, theatre, and the community, Broughton was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016. Just last year, in 2025, the university further recognised his career by awarding him an honorary doctorate of science. Beyond his academic achievements, Broughton was a celebrated playwright whose work brought te ao Māori to stages both domestically and internationally. His life of service extended to the New Zealand Territorial Force, where he served as a commissioned officer, and the Otago University Rugby Football Club. The University of Otago expressed its condolences to his whānau, hapū, and iwi, acknowledging a life spent enhancing the collective understanding of a better Aotearoa.