About the Journal

Focus and Scope

Waka Kuaka is an inter-disciplinary journal, which is peer-reviewed, internationally-ranked and published in both print and online formats. It features social, cultural, indigenous and historical research relating to the past and present lives and cultures of peoples of Pacific/Oceanic heritage, including those of the traditional cultural areas of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. Submissions typically derive from (but are not limited to): social anthropology, archaeology, history, ethnology, Māori and Pacific Studies, museum and material culture studies, ethnomusicology, linguistics and biological anthropology. The Journal is published quarterly (March, June, September and December) and includes main articles (5000-11,000 words), shorter communications (4000 words or less) and book reviews. Book reviews are solicited by the Review Editor.

Waka Kuaka: Journal of the Polynesian Society, is published quarterly (ISSN: 0032-4000, E-ISSN: 2230-5955) and globally ranks 60th out of  93 Anthropology journals worldwide (Journal Citation Reports 2021). JPS is indexed in SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, INFORMIT NEW ZEALAND COLLECTION, INDEX NEW ZEALAND, ANTHROPOLOGY PLUS, ACADEMIC SEARCH PREMIER, HISTORICAL ABSTRACTS, EBSCOhost, MLA INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY,
JSTOR, CURRENT CONTENTS (Social & Behavioural Sciences).

Peer Review Process

Each manuscript is assessed by experts in the associated field. Assessment is usually completed within three months of manuscript receipt, but may take longer in particular circumstances. Thank you for your patience.

Journal History

The Polynesian Society was formed in New Zealand in 1892, co-founded by Stephenson Percy Smith and Edward Tregear. One of the oldest learned societies in the Southern Hemisphere, its original aim was to promote the scholarly study of past and present New Zealand Māori and other Pacific Island peoples and cultures. Elsdon Best, W.H. Skinner, Sir Āpirana T. Ngata were among its earlier presidents; the Council is currently led by Dr. Richard Benton.  Its publications include not only the quarterly Waka Kuaka | Journal of the Polynesian Society, but also a monograph series, which over the years has included works on a variety of Māori and Pacific  Island heritage topics.

	Elsdon Best and Percy Smith. 1908. Elsdon Best (left) and Percy Smith in 1908. Location and photographer unknown. By kind permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, Reference number: 1/2-028237-F

Administration and Support

The Society's affairs and activities are administered by the Polynesian Society Council, which consists of the Society's officers and eight elected members. Logistical support is provided by the University of Auckland through Pacific Studies, Te Wānanga o Waipapa and the James Henare Māori Research Centre.  Financial support derives from membership dues, Individual and institutional subscriptions and sale of the Society's publications.