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RNZ News
29-04-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa celebrates 40 years since the opening of its spiritual home
O-Tāwhao Marae in Te Awamutu. Photo: Supplied / Te Wānanga o Aōtearoa Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is celebrating 40 years since the opening of O-Tāwhao Marae, the birthplace of the Wānanga, in Te Awamutu. The marae on the grounds of Te Awamutu College was founded in 1985 by Dr Rongo Wetere and Boy Mangu as a response to many young Māori being expelled or being failed out of school. By offering those rangatahi an opportunity to learn whakairo (carving) and raranga (weaving), they helped build O-Tāwhao Marae itself. Te Wānanga o Aotearoa celebrates 40 years of O-Tāwhao Marae. Photo: Supplied / Te Wānanga o Aōtearoa Te Wānanga o Aotearoa chief executive Evie O'Brien said the original 18 students who were enrolled in a program at O-Tāwhao in the 1980s have since been joined by almost a million other tauira (students) who have come through the Wānanga. "The opening is a huge milestone because it is the genesis really of what we now know as Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and I think that O-Tāwhao and then following on from O-Tāwhao the Aotearoa Institute, then it became Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was born out of struggle," she said. O'Brien said the wānanga - which started from humble beginnings in a double garage - began thanks to the hard work of many people in the Māori community in Te Awamutu who were supported by many Pākehā in the town as well. Te Wānanga o Aotearoa celebrates 40 years of O-Tāwhao Marae. Photo: Supplied / Te Wānanga o Aōtearoa "Some of the early founders of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, when there wasn't support coming from the government of the time, remortgaged their homes that was how deep their commitment was to this cause." The wānanga was formally recognised as a tertiary institution in 1993. And now has more than 80 sites throughout the motu, teaching thousands of tauira each year through programmes in education, social work, te reo Māori, business, trades, and vocational careers. Also marking the 40th anniversary is the release of Tihei Wānanga III, a commemorative publication that captures key moments and voices from recent years. A documentary film is currently in production and will be released later in 2025. "Wānanga were born from a vision and a desire to see things change and to make that happen in places in spaces where that wouldn't normally happen. So the story of the Wānanga also has it's origins in making something out of nothing," O'Brien said. O-Tāwhao Marae in Te Awamutu Photo: Supplied / Te Wānanga o Aōtearoa The three whare wānanga have achieved so much over the past 40 years, she said, calling them a 'quiet educational revolution' in New Zealand. "I've just returned from living and working in Oxford in England and te Wānanga o Aotearoa, alongside the other two wānanga was more known overseas and given credit that perhaps in our own lands. There's that saying 'globally hot and locally not'." At the heart of this journey is the enduring mission of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa: Kia angitu te tauira - Tauira success, she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
23-04-2025
- General
- Scoop
Te Wānanga O Aotearoa Celebrates 40 Years Of Transforming Education
Press Release – Te Wananga o Aotearoa From humble beginnings in a double garage in Te Awamutu, Te Wnanga o Aotearoa has grown into the second largest tertiary institution in Aotearoa distinctly Mori, community-based, and built on the foundation of whnau transformation through education. Sunday 27 April 2025 marks 40 years since the official opening of O-Tāwhao Marae, the birthplace of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. To mark this significant milestone, O-Tāwhao will host a special episode of the popular Taringa podcast, with invited guests sharing their reflections of the enduring journey so far. This will be broadcast live on Monday, 28 April and livestreamed on Facebook. From humble beginnings in a double garage in Te Awamutu, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has grown into the second largest tertiary institution in Aotearoa – distinctly Māori, community-based, and built on the foundation of whānau transformation through education. Founded in 1985 by Dr Rongo Wetere and Boy Mangu, the wānanga was born out of a bold local response to the failure of mainstream education to meet the needs of rangatahi Māori. By offering these rangatahi an opportunity to learn whakairo (carving) and raranga (weaving), they helped build O-Tāwhao Marae itself. This hands-on, kaupapa-driven approach to education laid the foundation for what would become the largest Māori tertiary provider in Aotearoa. Now with more than 80 sites throughout the motu, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa empowers thousands of tauira each year to succeed through programmes in education, social work, te reo Māori, business, trades, and vocational careers. Also marking the 40th anniversary is the release of Tihei Wānanga III, a commemorative publication that captures key moments and voices from recent years. A documentary film is currently in production and will be released later in 2025. Chief Executive Evie O'Brien says the milestone is an opportunity to reflect on their extraordinary achievements and look forward with purpose. 'This kaupapa started with a few determined people who believed in the power of mātauranga Māori and education to uplift our people – and that belief still drives us today,' says O'Brien. 'We're proud of what's been achieved and excited about where we're heading. Our focus remains firmly on providing the outstanding educational experiences our whānau deserve and to continue transforming lives long into the future.' At the heart of this journey is the enduring mission of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa: Kia angitu te tauira – Tauira success. New offerings in Digital Media and Design, Study and Employment Skills, Māori Governance, and Building, Construction and Allied Trades are being developed to meet the evolving aspirations of learners and communities. They will soon launch its next strategic direction, Te Pae Tawhiti 2030, setting out how it will continue to evolve to support tauira, kaimahi, iwi and communities in a rapidly changing education environment. Note: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is a respected, uniquely Māori tertiary education provider, delivering a wide range of programmes to tauira throughout Aotearoa. For 40 years, it has been dedicated to promoting and preserving te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori, supporting learners and communities across the motu.
Scoop
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Te Wānanga O Aotearoa Celebrates 40 Years Of Transforming Education
Sunday 27 April 2025 marks 40 years since the official opening of O-Tāwhao Marae, the birthplace of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. To mark this significant milestone, O-Tāwhao will host a special episode of the popular Taringa podcast, with invited guests sharing their reflections of the enduring journey so far. This will be broadcast live on Monday, 28 April and livestreamed on Facebook. From humble beginnings in a double garage in Te Awamutu, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has grown into the second largest tertiary institution in Aotearoa – distinctly Māori, community-based, and built on the foundation of whānau transformation through education. Founded in 1985 by Dr Rongo Wetere and Boy Mangu, the wānanga was born out of a bold local response to the failure of mainstream education to meet the needs of rangatahi Māori. By offering these rangatahi an opportunity to learn whakairo (carving) and raranga (weaving), they helped build O-Tāwhao Marae itself. This hands-on, kaupapa-driven approach to education laid the foundation for what would become the largest Māori tertiary provider in Aotearoa. Now with more than 80 sites throughout the motu, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa empowers thousands of tauira each year to succeed through programmes in education, social work, te reo Māori, business, trades, and vocational careers. Also marking the 40th anniversary is the release of Tihei Wānanga III, a commemorative publication that captures key moments and voices from recent years. A documentary film is currently in production and will be released later in 2025. Chief Executive Evie O'Brien says the milestone is an opportunity to reflect on their extraordinary achievements and look forward with purpose. 'This kaupapa started with a few determined people who believed in the power of mātauranga Māori and education to uplift our people – and that belief still drives us today,' says O'Brien. 'We're proud of what's been achieved and excited about where we're heading. Our focus remains firmly on providing the outstanding educational experiences our whānau deserve and to continue transforming lives long into the future.' At the heart of this journey is the enduring mission of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa: Kia angitu te tauira – Tauira success. New offerings in Digital Media and Design, Study and Employment Skills, Māori Governance, and Building, Construction and Allied Trades are being developed to meet the evolving aspirations of learners and communities. They will soon launch its next strategic direction, Te Pae Tawhiti 2030, setting out how it will continue to evolve to support tauira, kaimahi, iwi and communities in a rapidly changing education environment. Note: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is a respected, uniquely Māori tertiary education provider, delivering a wide range of programmes to tauira throughout Aotearoa. For 40 years, it has been dedicated to promoting and preserving te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori, supporting learners and communities across the motu.
