Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has signed a Relationship Agreement with Auckland Council as it continues to develop close work-ties with the territorial authority.
The signing took place during the opening week of Matariki Festival, of which Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is a principal sponsorship partner for a third consecutive year.
It signals the continuation of an already established alliance between the two organisations, which originally started with ATEED’s Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival and the Maori business network Te Whariki in 2016.
Other areas of shared interest include sponsorship of local community events such as Movies in the Parks, the Auckland International Cultural festival, Pasfika, Stand Up Stand Out and others.
While these events were facilitated by the council’s strategic partnership team, there will also be other collaborative opportunities, such as working with the Māori responsiveness unit Te Waka Angamua as well as the council’s community facilities department to use their sports and recreation centres.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa former CEO Dr Jim Mather said he was pleased to be working in partnership with Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Mākaurau and sees Matariki as an opportune time for both organisations to renew their outlook and aspirations.
“As a national tertiary education provider passionate about transforming whānau through education we are proud to be working alongside Auckland Council to serve and support the communities of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Auckland Council chief executive Stephen Town was acknowledged for taking on the task of delivering projects to embed Māori responsiveness as a core element of its culture, operations and service delivery.
He says he looks forward to working with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and developing a positive and effective relationship that brings tangible benefits, including the provision of Māori learning and development opportunities for council staff.
“I am very pleased to confirm Auckland Council’s desire to develop a closer, more collaborative relationship with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa with the overarching goal of celebrating and promoting Auckland’s Māori identity and Māori economic development.”
