Rachel Wesley (Kāi Tahu) has been appointed to a three-year term on the Māori Heritage Council by Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith.
Ms Wesley said the position was a longtime goal of hers that provided an opportunity to increase pathways for Māori into cultural heritage.
As Tūhura Otago Museum Board manawhenua director and an archaeologist by trade, she had experienced first-hand the gaps between cultural heritage regulation and "how it pans out on the ground".
"Having worked in the museum sector for a number of years as well, I've always been very, very keen on uplifting Māori sovereignty over their cultural heritage," she said.
"It's something I've been really keen to do for a long time and lift it to a more national level rather than a local level."
The Māori Heritage Council works alongside, and offers guidance to, the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Board.
The council is chaired by Ōtākou kaumātua Edward Ellison.
They had not held their first meeting and Ms Wesley said she wanted to see what was "high on the radar" at the national level.
"But everywhere I go and everything I do, I always carry a kaupapa of increasing sovereignty and Māori agency over their heritage, and creating pathways for Māori to get into cultural heritage, particularly archaeology, that's my first love."
Rei Kohere (Ngāti Porou) was also appointed. The pair will replace Mook Hohneck and Ruth Smith on the council.
