Professor Mead's main research areas are Maori culture generally, Pacific art and Maori art. Recently he has been focussing on the analysis of tikanga Maori (Maori customs and Maori knowledge) and has published a book on the results of that work. He has also published a book with a co-author on Maori proverbs. He played a leading role in the very successful exhibition called Te Maori that was launched in New York in 1984. Much has flowed from that exhibition. Earlier he did some pioneer work on the analysis of the artwork on Lapita pottery and for many years archaeologists developed further the model he had created and overseas researchers who are still following up on what he did. Recently there has developed a huge interest in tikanga Maori from both sections of the New Zealand population. On the Maori side there is an interest in rediscovery of their customs and in trying to understand their significance in terms of the environment in which we live now. Mainstream interests focus on ethical questions and on customary practice. There is an interest in trying to understand the background and significance of these customary practices. Tikanga Maori is now a research area that people are interested in and one can expect more research to be done on the subject and more publications to follow.