Alumni Awards 2025

Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate success 

The Council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi gathered with invited guests at Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae on Wednesday to celebrate the success of distinguished alumni who exemplify the values of this as a place of mātauranga Māori and higher learning. 

Held during the week of Graduation 2025, the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony highlighted the power of role models paving the way for future generations of leaders. Tohu were presented to Dr Hiria Hape, the Black whanau (Arthur, Waitangi and Moerangi) and Chief Judge Dr Caren Fox. 

Awanuiārangi Council member and event organiser, Materoa Dodd emphasised the importance of acknowledging alumni and celebrating their unique contributions to communities and culture. 

“The alumni we are celebrating have in common their connection to the growth and development of Māori people, as well as an enduring relationship to Awanuiārangi. Each of these individuals embodies the values of our Wānanga in their work and lives, ensuring our legacy lives on. 

“It’s particularly fitting to honour alumni successes in the same week that we celebrate the graduation of a new cohort of tauira, who will become tomorrow’s leaders. It’s a privilege to present these inaugural tohu as examples of the consequential contributions that our alumni make to their hapu, iwi and communities.” 

2025 Distinguished Alumni Award winners 

Dr Hiria Hape (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea)  

Dr Hape Is a distinguished alumna of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and a leading advocate for te reo Māori, matauranga Māori and tikanga Māori. She earned her PhD at Awanuiārangi in 2015 with her thesis Kauaka e tawhiti mai i tō maunga being the first written entirely in te reo Māori at the Wānanga. 

Dr. Hape’s career spans several decades and includes numerous significant academic and leadership roles. She has served as Cultural Attache to the Governor-General, Head of School – Iwi Development at Awanuiārangi, Senior Advisor for Māori Relationships at Te Puni Kōkiri, and Vice-President of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. She is frequently sought after for her expertise as a Pūkenga, Pou Tikanga, and Māori language translator in the New Zealand High Court and Environmental Court. 

In 2012, Dr. Hape was awarded the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) for her services to the state. Her career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to advancing te reo Māori, mātauranga Māori, and tikanga Māori. Through her leadership, advisory roles, and cultural advocacy, she has played a pivotal role in integrating Māori perspectives into policy, education, and governance. 

Whānau Transformation Award 

The alumni recognised for this award include the late Arthur (Te Rānui) Black, his wife Waitangi, and their daughter Moerangi. Together, their journey of education and service reflects the transformation of whānau envisioned by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, where the pursuit of higher learning strengthens whakapapa, empowers future generations, and upholds the values of te ao Māori.  

The Black whānau (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Tūhourangi, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau ā Apanui me Ngā Puhi) are a testament to the transformative power of Māori-centred education and intergenerational learning. Their connection to Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, as tauira, graduates, educators, and cultural leaders— has contributed significantly to the revitalisation of te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori.  

Grounded in their Māori identity, committed to te reo Māori revitalisation, and devoted to the wellbeing of their people, the Black whānau leave an enduring legacy of cultural leadership, influence and honour. 

Chief Judge Dr. Caren Fox (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata) 

Her Honour Chief Judge Dr. Caren Fox is a distinguished alumna of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. In 2000, she was the first wahine Māori appointed a Judge of the Māori Land Court and, in two additional historic firsts, became Deputy Chief Judge in 2010 and Chief Judge in 2023, the first woman ever appointed to those roles. She was also appointed Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal. 

Chief Judge. Fox has had a long and influential career in both academia and the judiciary, having previously served as a lecturer at Victoria University and the University of Waikato. In 2009, she was appointed as an alternate Judge of the Environment Court and has served as a presiding officer for several inquiries before the Waitangi Tribunal. 

Chief Judge. Fox holds an LLM in Law and earned her PhD from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, becoming the first sitting Māori Land Court Judge to do so — underscoring her dedication to legal excellence and Indigenous scholarship. In recognition of her outstanding work as an advocate for Māori and Indigenous rights, she was awarded the New Zealand Human Rights Commission Millennium Medal in 2000. 

With a career dedicated to justice, governance, and Indigenous advocacy both nationally and internationally, Chief Judge Dr. Fox has been instrumental in shaping Māori land law and advancing the rights of Māori. Her scholarly and judicial contributions embody the values scholarship, leadership, and service, leaving a legacy that continues to shape the legal landscape and uphold the principles of Māori law and governance.