Wānanga Thought Leadership on the World Stage

Te Whare Wānaga o Awanuiārangi (Awanuiārangi) is proud to sponsor the keynote presentation of Distinguished Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith at the 2025 World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE). 

WIPCE is the largest global gathering dedicated to advancing indigenous education and knowledge systems. The conference brings together educators, policymakers, community leaders, and researchers from around the world to share transformative models of learning grounded in indigenous identity, language, and self-determination.  

As one of Aotearoa’s most esteemed scholars, Professor Smith will deliver a keynote address under the theme of Education Systems and Practice. Her work has shaped global conversations about decolonising research, indigenous education, and kaupapa Māori (Māori causes). 

A Distinguished Professor and Deputy Chair of Council at Awanuiārangi, Professor Smith’s influence spans decades of scholarship and leadership. She was founding Co-Director of Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga - the Māori Centre of Research Excellence and has held senior academic roles at The University of Auckland and The University of Waikato.  

Her seminal text Decolonising Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples has become a cornerstone of indigenous scholarship internationally, alongside publications such as A Civilising Mission? The Making of New Zealand’s Native School System 1867-1969 and the International Handbook of Indigenous Education. 

Her contribution to education and research has been recognised through numerous honours, including her election as an International Member of the US National Academy of Science in 2023 and her appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.  

Reflecting on WIPCE’s significance, Professor Smith said, “conferences like this create a unique space where indigenous knowledge systems and mainstream education can learn from each other, opening pathways for transformation and collaboration around the world.” 

WIPCE will run over five days, uniting indigenous thought leadership in dialogue on the future of education. Through this platform, Awanuiārangi continues to champion Māori scholarship and the global exchange of indigenous knowledge.