Rangiānehu is an indigenous studies and Māori cultural astronomy academic and is Professor of Mātauranga Māori at Massey University. He is the first Māori person to win a Prime Minister’s Science Prize, is a fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, and is the chief advisor to the NZ Government on the public holiday Matariki. Rangi was named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year in 2023.