Te Mana Whakahaere o Awanuiārangi

Distinguished Professor, Sir Hirini Moko Mead

Qualifications: KNZM, FRSNZ, PhD (Southern Illinois), MA (University of Auckland), BA

Iwi: Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi

Distinguished Professor, Sir Hirini Moko Mead is a prominent and influential educator, scholar, historian, author, artist, writer and Māori leader. His significant contribution to education, Māori arts, language and culture spans over seven decades. His authored works are cited by scholars worldwide and he is sought as a commentator on Māori and Indigenous matters.

In 1968 he earned his PhD from the University of Southern Illinois. His notable academic career includes teaching at various schools across the Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay regions and in Canada at McMaster University and the University of British Columbia. In 1977 he became the first Professor of Māori at Victoria University of Wellington — developing the first Māori Studies department in New Zealand. Upon retirement he founded Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

He has achieved many honours including holding positions, such as the inaugural Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa; Chair of Te Mana Whakahaere o Awanuiārangi from 2003 to August 2020; appointment to the Waitangi Tribunal in 2003; chief negotiator for the Ngāti Awa claims, which were settled in March 2005; made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori and to education in 2007 and in 2009 this was re-designated to a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit; the inaugural Chair of Te Pourewa Arotahi: Post-treaty Settlement Futures in 2010; a member of Te Taumata Matanga in August 2020 and the inaugural Writer in Residence of Awanuiārangi from September 2020.

Dr Te Kei Merito

Qualifications: MNZM, D.MD (Hon. Causa)

Iwi: Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pukeko

Dr Te Kei Merito (Hon. Causa) is a highly respected Kaumatua, widely acknowledged for his cultural pūkenga (expertise), mātauranga (knowledge) of tikanga and kawa and mastery in oratory skills in both te reo Māori and English.

In 1959 he joined the New Zealand Army serving twenty-five years, achieving the highest rank for a non-commissioned Officer as Warrant Officer First Class and Regimental Sergeant Major for the 6th (Hauraki) Infantry Battalion. After his retirement from the Army, Dr Merito worked in various roles for the Department of Labour’s Tauranga District; Whakatāne District Council and the Department of Conservation. He has held leadership and governance positions, as Chair and Deputy Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa; hapū delegate to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa for Ngāti Rangatua; Chair of Te Kōmiti Taiao o Ngāti Awa and Chair of the Rūrima Islands Trust. He is the current Chair of Te Tapa-toru ā-Toi and President of Te Arawa Māori Returned Services League. He continues to make contributions to kaitiakitanga within the takiwā of Ngāti Awa and throughout the Bay of Plenty.

In 2017, Dr Merito became a member of the Order of Merit for his services to Māori and conservation. In September 2020, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Māori Development in recognition of his leadership and lifetime of dedicated service to his tribes, to Māori, to education, to the Māori language and to the environment.

Dr Merito was a member of Te Mana Whakahaere o Awanuiārangi from 2009 to September 2020. In October 2020, he was appointed to Te Taumata Matanga.