Roma Mere Roberts is a New Zealand biologist who is interested in cross-cultural understanding and the interface between mÃÂtauranga MÃÂori and other knowledge systems. In 2003 Roberts was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to MÃÂori and science.
Roberts describes herself as of PÃÂkehàand MÃÂori descent, and affiliates to Tainui, NgÃÂti Apakura, NgÃÂti Hikairo, and NgÃÂti Korokë Kahukura iwi.
Roberts was educated at St Cuthbert's College in Auckland. She completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Canterbury. She then moved to the University of Auckland, where she completed a Masters degree on Calliphora flies followed by a PhD, studying rats on Tiritiri Matangi Island.
Roberts was Head of Science at Te Whare WÃÂnanga o AwanuiÃÂrangi, and then honorary research fellow in anthropology at the University of Auckland. She has worked on cross-cultural understanding and the interface between mÃÂtauranga MÃÂori and other knowledge systems, including MÃÂori views on biotechnology.
Roberts was a board member of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research and Forest Research (now Scion). She was a member of the MÃÂori advisory committee to the Environmental Risk Management Authority. Roberts was previously a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Biosecurity and the UNESCO (NZ) science subcommittee. She is a member of the steering group for the University of Otago research theme Full Circle: MÃÂori And Pacific Genetics Of Health.
Roberts is a member of the organisation New Zealand Christians in Science.
In the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours Roberts was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to MÃÂori and science. She was awarded St Cuthbert's Old Girl Honours in 2006.