Skip Content
Jacinta Ruru

Professor Jacinta Ruru - Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Maniapoto - has joined Te Mana Whakahaere, the board of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Board chair Vanessa Eparaima made the announcement last week and says Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is fortunate to have someone with Prof. Ruru’s experience, knowledge and mana to help steer Te Wānanga o Aotearoa into the future.

Prof. Ruru is Aotearoa’s first Māori law professor, one of our leading Māori legal scholars and last year became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and the Law.

She has lectured at Otago University for more than 20 years and her research interests are in areas such as tikanga Māori and Indigenous laws, Māori land law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi and United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the decolonisation of New Zealand’s research sector and legal education.

Prof. Ruru says she looks forward to working with Te Mana Whakahaere and contributing to the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa vision of whānau transformation through education.

“Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has a long history of working for our people and I’m excited to be able to play a role in its ongoing success.”

 Back to news & events

Published On: 1 March, 2022

Article By: Tracey Cooper



Other Articles

  • 9 July 2025

    Victoria's Journey: Embracing te reo Māori in healthcare

    Nurse Victoria Richmond shares how learning te reo Māori through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s Papa Reo programme has deepened her cultural competency and patient care. Discover how flexible online learning is helping bridge cultural gaps in Aotearoa’s healthcare system.

  • 02 July 2025

    Turning challenges into change

    Discover how Ian Rauwhero (Tainui, Waiohua, Ngāti Pikiao) transformed personal challenges into community impact through study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. From family court struggles to social services success, Ian’s inspiring journey highlights the power of education, whānau support, and cultural connection.

  • 18 June 2025

    Painting from within: Nakita’s creative awakening

    Discover the creative journey of contemporary Māori artist Nakita Tilson, whose passion for painting and Māori art was nurtured through her studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. From overcoming health challenges to creating powerful works like Hine Tōhenga, Nakita’s story is one of resilience, identity, and painting from within.

  • 11 June 2025

    New country, new skills for Sophie

    Discover how Sophie Li, a recent immigrant from China, built confidence and community through study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. From English language to money management and small business, Sophie’s journey highlights the power of accessible education for new migrants in Aotearoa.