New Māori leadership roles to shape the future of education and research

Two new senior academic appointments are set to shape the future of Māori education and research at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

Mel Wall has been appointed Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori (Education), while Professor Sarah-Jane Paine takes up the role of Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori (Research).

The appointments strengthen the academic leadership of Te Tari o Te Ihonuku Māori, the office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori through creating dedicated leadership across two areas central to the University’s future: the experience and success of Māori learners, and the strength, visibility and impact of Māori research and scholarship.  

Mel (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) returned to Waipapa Taumata Rau in 2005 after working at the University of Edinburgh and University of Hull. As a geographer and educator, her research interests include knowledges of place, social inclusion and exclusion, and Indigenous geopolitics.

She says the newly established education role is an opportunity to build on the work already underway across the University and create lasting change for tauira Māori and kaimahi.

In 2023, she received the National Tertiary Teaching Excellence (Te Whatu Kairangi) Award for Innovation in Learning, Teaching and Curriculum.

“I am passionate about teaching well, and teaching in ways that are relevant and resonate with our students. As a geographer, I’m interested in the relationship between people and place, and I see real opportunities to improve the learning experience by connecting our tauira more deeply to place.”

Her appointment is a dedicated senior academic leadership role focused on Māori education, something Mel describes as both a privilege and responsibility.

“This is about service,” she says. I’m grateful to the Māori leaders who came before me, whose courage and commitment created the opportunities I have today. I see this role as an opportunity to build on that legacy and create pathways for others.”

Mel is looking forward to working across the University to advance the educational aspirations of Taumata Teitei, Toitū Waipapa and Kawea Ake, and to progress the University’s commitments under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“Working alongside Māori students and staff, I look forward to partnering across the University to build on the exciting work already underway and create an educational experience where Māori tauira can thrive.”  

For Professor Sarah-Jane Paine (Tūhoe), her appointment as Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori (Research) comes at a time of significant opportunity to strengthen the Māori research ecosystem across Waipapa Taumata Rau.

With a background spanning biomedical science, public health and the social sciences, Sarah-Jane says her priority is to bring Māori researchers together and create the conditions for Kaupapa Māori research to flourish.

“It is a privilege to work with and alongside Professor Te Kawehau Hoskins and Te Tari o Te Ihonuku Māori in their courageous work serving and guiding our colleagues and students.”

Sarah-Jane’s immediate focus will be on strengthening connections between Māori researchers and articulating a stronger vision for the Māori research ecosystem.

At the pōhiri to welcome the new Māori leadership group, Sarah-Jane reflected on the opportunities for Māori research and science nationally and at the University.

She says the University’s Signature Research Areas provide an opportunity to showcase the academic and community impact of Kaupapa Māori research to the world.

“My task now is to bring Māori research colleagues together so that we can bring colour, light and detail to those spaces.”

Sarah-Jane wants to focus on strengthening research structures and to create the space for Māori scholarship to be recognised on its own terms – as a source of knowledge, transformation and possibility.

“I think the time is right for us to come back to ourselves, by which I mean, to come back to Kaupapa Māori research as a space of scholarship, activism and transformation.”  

Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori Professor Te Kawehau Hoskins says the appointments represent an important step in building the University’s Māori academic leadership and creating the conditions for Māori scholarship and success to thrive.

“These appointments are two significant senior academic roles. They are about building the Māori leadership capability and influence we need to shape education and research at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.”

The appointments build on five years of deliberate work to strengthen Māori strategic and governance capability across the University.

“Mel and Sarah-Jane are now taking that work into two areas that are fundamental to our future, how Māori experience education, and how Māori knowledge and scholarship is valued, supported and shared.”

“Māori leadership is essential to serving our communities well,” Te Kawehau says.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education Professor Sarah Young says Mel’s leadership will build an education system to thrive.

“Mel brings a strong vision for Māori education and student success, alongside a clear sense of what is possible when we place mātauranga Māori and the aspirations of Māori learners at the heart of our educational approach. Mel will help us build an education system that not only enables Māori students to thrive but strengthens the experience and success of all our students.” Young says.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Frank Bloomfield says Sarah-Jane’s appointment will showcase the impact of Kaupapa Māori at the University.

“I, and all of the Research and Innovation team, are really excited at the appointment of Sarah-Jane as Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori (Research). This appointment brings huge opportunity for how we partner with Te Tari o Te Ihonuku Māori to articulate and support the vision for the Māori research ecosystem and showcase the impact of kaupapa Māori research across Waipapa Taumata Rau.” Frank says.