Announcing the appointment of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori

Pōhiritia atu, haere mai, haere mai, haere mai rā taku wehi taku whakatiketike I ahau ki ruka rā e, haere mai, haere mai.

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā, tēnei te reo ō mihi ki tētahi o kā mokopuna o Te Taitokerau, tēnei mātou o Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki e whakamānawa atu nei ki tēnei uri o Ngā Puhi o Ngāti Whātua. Nau mai tāuti mai e te Ihoraki e Merata, nei te reo karaka, nei te reo pōwhiri, nei te reo whakatau.

Māori Social Science researcher and academic, Professor Merata Kawharu MNZM (Ngāti Whatua, Ngāpuhi), is Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University’s new Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori.

A Rhodes Scholar with overarching research interests in supporting Māori leadership, community, cultural development and education, Professor Kawharu’s primary responsibility will focus on the implementation and advancement of the University’s Māori Plan, including engaging with mana whenua.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, Professor Kawharu will work collaboratively across the University, creating opportunities that foster the integration and implementation of the Plan throughout the University.

Professor Kawharu is currently a Research Professor at the Centre for Sustainability at the University of Otago and a Principal of Takarangi Research Ltd. She has also consulted with UNESCO and the UN and has served on a number of local committees, providing guidance in the area of Māori community development for Māori communities, and for central government and private sector organisations.

Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Edwards says he is delighted to have someone with the mana, research and academic standing of Professor Kawharu joining the University as part of the Senior Leadership Team.

“Following a rigorous and thorough recruitment process, Professor Kawharu emerged as the best fit for the role.

“Her qualifications, expertise and experience align closely with the purpose of the University and our values. We look forward to her positive contributions in the building, development and implementation of the Māori Plan.”

Council member and representative of Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu Liz Hill-Taiaroa says, “The appointment of Professor Merata Kawharu will be one of immense value to Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University. Her vision and values are closely aligned with ours and her future-focused thinking will engender opportunities through the integrated implementation of the Māori Plan, and in partnership opportunities across the university.

“As an iwi and as hapū we have great confidence this appointment will benefit a wide range of people and give voice to opportunity and success.

“We congratulate Professor Kawharu on her appointment and we congratulate Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University for their foresight in this further development of our successful land-based university.”

Professor Kawharu has a Bachelor of Arts, Postgraduate Diploma (Business Admin) and completed a DPhil in Kaitiakitanga at Oxford University. Her current work involves supporting marae-based growers to develop food systems (‘Pa to Plate’) in Te Tai Tokerau, connecting kai, kainga and kōrero with descendants wherever they live. She is also leading a multi-community climate change programme which is developing climate resilience plans.

Professor Merata Kawharu will be welcomed to her role at Lincoln University in February 2024. 

For further information, contact media@lincoln.ac.nz.