Launch of Te Kete Tuangahuru

Wānanga sets the standard for cultural development with launch of new department

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi (TWWoA) has celebrated the official launch of Te Kete Tuangahuru, its new Cultural Development Service, which aims to embed Mātauranga Māori into professional development.

Launched on Wednesday by Wānanga founder, Sir Hirini Mead, alongside Chief Executive, Professor Wiremu Doherty, the event was a chance to introduce the team leading this important kaupapa.

In his opening, Sir Hirini Mead talked about the economic impetus created by the COVID pandemic that forced TWWoA to find a way to do things differently. 

“Most good ideas begin as a dream and today we are bringing that dream to life. The programme model developed by Te Kete Tuangahuru will ensure the Wānanga can continue to respond quickly to other similar opportunities as they arise.” 

The new department will work in partnership with community, public and corporate sectors to co-create and deliver cultural development programmes that are tailored to the specific needs of each sector.

The Wānanga is currently working in partnership to deliver three programmes for: 

• Oranga Tamariki:  Tū Māia - Building Māori Cultural Capability is an 18-week programme, blending overnight noho and online classes for 350 staff around the country. 
• Real Estate Authority: Each of the 16,000 licensees completes a 1.5 hr interactive video named Te Kākano (the seed) which is focused on the basics of te reo, tikanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and whenua Māori as they relate to the real estate industry. 
• Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ): We’re working together to improve access and choice of mental health and addiction services to all Wānanga students across Aotearoa (38,000) 

Sir Hirini Mead also led a minute’s silence to recognise the critical role that Sir Harawira Tiri Gardiner had played in establishing Tū Māia, which was the catalyst for the new department.

Professor Doherty echoed the tribute and then congratulated the Te Kete Tuangahuru team, acknowledging that it was a great day for Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.  

“As leaders in cultural training, we’re well-placed to provide solutions to some of the challenges being faced by organisations such as Oranga Tamariki.

“We collaborated with the other two Wānanga (Te Wananga o Raukawa and Te Wananga o Aotearoa) to deliver the Tū Māia programme and our collective strength is contributing in a significant way to the development of Aotearoa.” 

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is known for its high-level academic delivery and expertise in āhuatanga, tikanga and mātauranga Māori (Māori tradition, custom and knowledge). This reputation is attracting interest from other organisations and TWWoA is currently in conversations with the New Zealand Law Commission, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Army to deliver cultural development services aligned to each of their specific needs.