Skip Content
Vanessa Epirama

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is delighted to announce the appointment of iwi leader Vanessa Epairama as deputy chairperson of its council, Te Mana Whakahaere.

Ms Epairama is the chairperson of the Raukawa Settlement Trust and director of its $100 million commercial arm, Raukawa Iwi Development Ltd.

She brings considerable governance and leadership experience across a wide range of sectors including environmental, education, tourism and particularly Māori and iwi development to her new role.

Ms Epairama (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tuwhareto) said she was “humbled and honoured” to have been asked to stand as deputy chairperson and then to have been elected to the role by her fellow board members.

“I was raised with a very clear message from my mother, and our kaumātua that education is the key to enhancing our future as individuals and as whānau,” she said.

Ms Epairama said the organisation had made amazing progress in recent years and there were opportunities ahead to further enhance the lives of whānau throughout New Zealand through education.

“Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has a vital role to play in lifting the lives of Māori and all New Zealanders through education.” 

“I am very grateful to be able to play whatever part I am asked to perform to help ensure that we achieve the exciting potential before us.”

Te Mana Whakahaere chairman Richard Batley said Ms Epairama, a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, is held in high regard and has shown consistent and strong leadership and a proven ability to deliver results at the helm of several different organisations.

“Her appointment is a sign that our organisation is bold and prepared to embrace change both at the management and governance levels. We are excited by this development and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa looks forward to her contributions.”

 Back to news & events

Published On:

Article By: James Ihaka



Other Articles

  • 21 March 2023

    Studying business was the road to success for Tāmaki couple

    For husband and wife Daniel and Charmaine Ngawharau, studying with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and using the knowledge learned to start a business has been the best decision they’ve ever made.

  • From art tauira to art kaiako: Tā moko artist eager to share his knowledge

    Rawiri T Horne, a renowned tā moko artist, and new kaiako at the Christchurch campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, is passionate about sharing tikanga through creating art.

  • 14 February 2023

    Embracing te reo Māori the key for Taranaki grandmother to help understand her identity

    A lightbulb moment about identifying as a “New Zealander” led to grandmother and radio station manager Anne Dawson enrolling in Te Reo Māori studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2021.

  • 24 January 2023

    From Kenya to Aotearoa - Toi and its many connection's

    Jennifer Dickerson, a self-proclaimed "Third Culture Kid" due to her unique upbringing around the world, has discovered who she is through art.