Discover how Tāmaki rangatahi are carving their way into a brighter future through the Mahi ā Toi Academy at Rutherford College. Learn how this programme blends traditional Māori art of whakairo with modern tools, fostering a strong connection to whakapapa and Māori culture.

Discover the inspiring journey of Tessa Thompson, a social work tauira at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Learn how the Manaaki Tāngata programme and dedicated kaiako helped her overcome challenges and pursue a career in social work. Explore her commitment to making a positive impact on her whānau and community in Kawerau, and her aspirations to mentor rangatahi.

Follow the inspiring journey of Haani Huata-Allen, inaugural recipient of the Te Manawahoukura Residency at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Learn how this groundbreaking residency supports kaimahi in their Rangahau projects, allowing Haani to focus on her PhD in Reo Revitalisation through Kapa Haka. Discover the impact of Indigenous research and the importance of continuing education inspired by her mother, Dr Te Rita Papesch.

Murray ‘Muzz’ Green (Te Kanawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Whatakaraka, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Te Kiriwai, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Ngutū, Whānau-a-Apanui and Ngāti Porou) left school at 15 when he realised conventional education wasn’t for him.

Ahakoa he rerekē noa atu te ao i tipu ake ai a Rob Bromley i tāna e mōhio nei i tēnei rā, nō te ohinga ake, ka rongo ia i tētahi hao ki te reo Māori.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was awarded the prestigious Mana Tangata Award at the 2025 NZ HR Excellence Awards on Thursday 27 February in Tāmaki Makaurau.

When Peter Waaka arrived in Queenstown many years ago, with a career spanning government work, hotel management, and Māori development teaching wasn’t on his radar. But life has a way of leading us in unexpected directions, and for Peter, that was helping tauira turn their business ideas into reality.

Explore the journeys of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaimahi Haimona Maruera and Maiterangi Collett as they prepare for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025. Discover their dedication to kapa haka, the support from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and the significance of this prestigious event in showcasing traditional Māori performing arts.

Tracey Hall, kaiako of Ngā Poutoko Whakarara Oranga – Bachelor of Bicultural Social Work (BBSW) in Tauranga, is reflective on her first year of teaching at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Maunga Kura Toi graduate, Tracey Dale, has been on a journey with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that has helped her reconnect with her identity and find her voice in the world through raranga.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa proudly welcomed Evie O’Brien (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Maniapoto) with a stirring pōwhiri at the Te Awamutu head office\on Tuesday, 28 January.

Discover how Matt Tauroa's journey with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa's Waka Ama course led to a passion for the sport and a new career. Learn about his experiences, from earning a day skipper qualification to starting his own paddle and accessories shop, Manaaki Made. Explore the positive impact of Waka Ama on his life and how Te Wānanga o Aotearoa supports Māori sports and education.

Te Manawahoukura director Dr Becky Kiddle (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi) has been awarded one of the premier research fellowships in New Zealand.

It took 14 years, but Facility Support Worker Cindy Marsters finally took home the Supreme Award in the annual Tau Ora health challenge at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Salote Panapa was on her way to study law at Victoria University when a plea from her church for more educators led her to change her career path.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is pleased to announce the appointment of Evie O’Brien (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Maniapoto) as its new chief executive.

On Saturday, the 34th Trillian Trust Māori Sports Awards will be held at Mercury Baypark Arena in Mount Maunganui and for the sixth year, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is continuing its sponsorship of the Te Tamāhine-ā-Papatūānuku, the junior sportswoman award.

2 Te Wānanga o Aotearoa researchers have been recognised at the Royal Society Te Apārangi and the Health Research Council of New Zealand awards this week.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is excited to announce the launch of two innovative programmes aimed at preserving and revitalising te reo Māori and nurturing cultural heritage: Te Tohu Reo Rumaki and Te Tohu Tiaki Taonga.

Tauira Rawiri McLean says the support he received from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa while dealing with a family tragedy last year helped him achieve his study goal and progress to Te Pūtaketanga o te Reo, the Level 4 full immersion reo programme.

It was third time lucky for Chinese New Zealander, Jian (Jay) Yao. He always knew he wanted to join the NZ Police but failed the psychometric test twice and thought he’d never be accepted.

Teiā Mataara Potoru came to Aotearoa for her health, decided to fill her time with study and is now teaching at the country’s first Cook Island bilingual unit, at Mangere East Primary school in Tāmaki Makaurau.

This October and November, our toi tauira from around the motu are showcasing their mahi toi. These free exhibitions held on our campuses or in the community highlight what tauira have been working on in their programme to whānau, friends, and the public.

Congratulations to Jonique Oli, founder of Waiapu Road, for winning the 2024 Māori Businesswomen’s Employment & Growth award, sponsored by us! Her dedication and hard mahi have paid off, and we're proud to support her along her journey to success.

Husband and wife duo, Drs. Tim and Joni Angeli-Gordon are excited to take their research project to the next level after being awarded a significant grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC).

The journey into primary teaching began unexpectedly for Princess Hirovanna while she was assisting at Māngere Bridge School as a volunteer.

To get to her reo Māori class, Jude Thompson travels an hour and a half by car and ferry each way, but she’s adamant that it’s all worth it.

Since 2021, Emma Ralston-Wyllie has been a kaiako of first He Pī Ka Pao and then He Pī Ka Rere at the Waitākere campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

In early August, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa tauira, Annetia Tautuku was privileged to travel with an ope from New Plymouth to attend Toitū te Reo in Heretaunga (Hastings).

English kaiako Cathy Purdie began her reo Māori journey in 1997, intending to uncover more about her cultural identity.

Former toi tauira, Ana Hislop and Emily Clemett, celebrated their first public gallery exhibition in Ōtepoti, launching their art careers in the south where their tīpuna are from.

Sue Tipene (Ngai Tahu, Ngai Tūahuriri) has had a few career changes, but a passion for education has been at the core of each and every one.

Lynette Ngaheu gave up a life of leisure in Ireland to return to Kawerau and says it was the best move she ever made.

As teams gear up for the International Va’a Federation (IVF) World Sprints, Elite J19 Men coach Patrick (Paddy) Harding-Rimene reflects on the invaluable support from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa which paved the route for his rangatahi squad.

Learning the art of raranga may not seem like a life-changing activity, but for recent graduates Toni Kakau and Zelda Te Pairi, this practice has been exactly that.

Tongan-born Tangi Katoa grew up watching her mum, Lineni Paea, teach, instilling in her a love of education and a passion for teaching.

Tereinamu Hakopa has a thirst for knowledge and is dedicated to sharing the knowledge she gains with those around her.

By learning te reo Māori, 22-year-old Sophie Doyle hopes to be an example to her whānau and generations to come, embodying the vision of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, whānau transformation through education.

In a creative field largely dominated by non-Māori artists, ceramicist Tracy Keith (Ngāpuhi) is always happy to educate others about how Māori view and use uku (clay).

Truedy Taia is all about empowering women to achieve in a male-dominated industry. Truedy leads the first all-women crew for Rotorua-based forestry organisation, Mahi Rākau after being invited to start one a few years ago.

Around 40 Māori curators from museums, galleries, archives and museums gathered at O-Tāwhao Marae in Te Awamutu over the weekend for their annual hui aimed at networking, sharing knowledge and discussing how to grow Māori capacity in the sector.

Falling pregnant at 15 was a big surprise for Paeroa teen Ella-Grace Tissingh, but with the support of the Youth Services programme at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, she’s managed to gain NCEA level 2, get her full license, and start up a successful business.