Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori)
Professor Rawinia Higgins
Tūhoe
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori)
Tumu Ahurei
Professor Rawinia Higgins was appointed Te Tumu Ahurei (Māori) / Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) of Victoria University of Wellington in 2016. She was previously Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori Research and Head of School for Te Kawa a Māui / School of Māori Studies. Professor Higgins came to Victoria University of Wellington as a senior lecturer in 2009 after holding academic positions at the University of Otago for 12 years. Her research expertise is Māori language revitalisation and, more specifically, language planning and policy.
Professor Higgins is a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, a board member of Te Mātāwai, Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga (Māori Centre of Research Excellence), and is the Deputy Chair of the Māori Knowledge and Development PBRF portfolio.
In 2015, the Minister for Māori Development appointed her chair of the review of the Māori Language Bill and she helped shape the legislation enacted in April 2016. Te Mātāwai was created as part of the new legislation and governs The Māori Language Strategy dedicated to whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori communities.
Associate Professor Meegan Hall
Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Mātauranga Māori)
Iho (Mātauranga Māori)
Associate Professor Hall provides strategic academic leadership to increase awareness and grow engagement with mātauranga Māori across the University in learning, teaching and research. This complements the work that she currently does with the Centre for Academic Development, as a senior lecturer. Meegan's primary focus is working with Māori and Pasifika academic staff and encouraging culturally responsive teaching and learning practices for Māori and Pasifika students.
Meegan completed a law degree and a BA in history at Victoria University of Wellington before switching to postgraduate studies, then teaching and research roles at Te Kawa a Māui, the School of Māori Studies. Meegan spent four years as poutaki/senior programme manager Māori in the University's Continuing Education and Executive Development (CEED) unit, then had a brief stint in the private sector, before returning to work at the Centre for Academic Development.
Paul Meredith
Ngāti Maniapoto, Pākehā
Pou Hautū (Executive Officer)
Paul Meredith is the Pou Hautū and supports the activities of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori). Paul has taught in the Faculty of Law, the History Programme and the School of Māori Studies at the University as an adjunct lecturer. He was previously a Research Fellow at Te Mātāhauariki Institute, University of Waikato. He continues his research and publishing interests in the areas of Māori customary law, Māori identity and Māori history. He is a co-author of Te Mātāpunenga: A Compendium of References to the Concepts and Institutions of Māori Customary Law published by Victoria University Press.
Cecilia Tuiomanufili
Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngā Ruahine, Ngā Puhi
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori)
Kaiāwhina Matua ki te Tumu Ahurei
Cecilia Tuiomanufili is the Executive Assistant for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori). She came to Victoria University of Wellington with a vast knowledge and experience of executive assistance work in the private and education sectors. Her previous employment included executive assistant to the Chief Executives of New Zealand Institute of Sport and Local Government New Zealand, and contract work as executive assistant to Group Managers at the Ministry of Education. She graduated with a Tohu Maoritanga from Victoria University of Wellington in 2011.