Congratulations to respected academic and researcher Professor Rawinia Higgins, who has been appointed to the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) at Victoria.

Respected academic and researcher Professor Rawinia Higgins has been appointed to the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) at Victoria.

She will succeed Professor Piri Sciascia, the first person to hold the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) at Victoria, who will retire at the end of June after a distinguished career.

Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford says he is delighted to have someone of Professor Higgins' skills and experience taking on this important leadership position at Victoria.

"This appointment will allow Professor Higgins to further extend the significant contribution she has made to Māori development at Victoria University in recent years and to ensure Victoria plays a lead role in driving better outcomes for Māori.

"Her experience and knowledge will be crucial in helping Victoria achieve the objectives in our Strategic Plan and to building the capacity and capability of Māori staff members," says Professor Guilford.

Professor Higgins, joined Victoria University as a Senior Lecturer at Te Kawa a Māui - School of Māori Studies in 2009. Promotions followed rapidly and she became an Associate Professor in 2012 and in 2014, a Professor, Head of Te Kawa a Māui and Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori Research.

She is a widely acknowledged expert on the revitalisation of te reo Māori, has strong relationships with Māori communities and agencies and provides strategic advice that has influenced Māori policy development.

Professor Higgins has held many roles on boards, advisory groups and working parties during her career. She is currently a board member of Te Māngai Pāho, Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga Centre of Research Excellence, a member of the Waitangi Tribunal and a Commissioner for Te Taura Whiri I te Reo Māori. She chaired the Māori Language Advisory Group for the Minister for Māori Development, which influenced and shaped the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Act 2016.

In addition, Professor Higgins is Deputy Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission's Māori Knowledge and Development PBRF (Performance-Based Research Fund) panel.

Professor Higgins has a proven track record of providing leadership at Victoria on matters related to Māori research and mātauranga Māori.

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