Dr Logan Bannister—Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students), Professor Bryony James—Provost, Reece Moors—Director of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, and Tina Wakefield—Chief Operating Officer, were accompanied by whānau, friends, and former colleagues at the event in the Hunter Council Chamber, hosted by Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith.

Speaking at the event, Nic officially welcomed our four new colleagues to the University and Te Hiwa—the new name for the University’s senior leadership team which means steering paddle.

“I am greatly looking forward to paddling alongside you, as Te Hiwa, and alongside our whole University community to take us as far as we can go. Together, I know we’ll go to extraordinary places.”

Nic acknowledged the challenging times that the University has navigated this year, and the difficult decisions we have made to ensure the long-term sustainability of Te Herenga Waka.

“Now, it’s time to focus on the things only we can do. To position ourselves at the centre of a wonderful ecosystem here in Aotearoa—here in Pōneke Wellington—for and with our stakeholders, alumni, staff, and students.

“We are all a team, and it is only as a team and as a connected community that we will be able to make progress and achieve our goals.”

The Tumu Whakauru—Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) is a new position, created in the SLT portfolio realignment that took place earlier this year. In this role, Logan is charged with growing and retaining student numbers, by developing and implementing strategies that focus on scholarships, experience, wellbeing, and learning support.

Speaking at the event, she iterated the three values she wants to bring to the role.

“Firstly, relationships are paramount in a place like this—with stakeholders, iwi, alumni, staff, and students. Secondly, our students, our ākonga, should be at the centre and the heart of everything we do. And lastly, as a leader, I hope to operate with the utmost transparency and integrity.”

As Tumu Maruaia—Provost, Bryony is Te Herenga Waka’s chief academic officer—responsible for driving the highest standards of academic excellence across the University, and providing strategic leadership to Deans and all academic, teaching, learning, and research activities.

In her speech on Wednesday, she compared the University to a logan stone, or rocking stone, like the one in her home county of Cornwall.

“A logan stone is a giant boulder, balanced at the top of the hill so perfectly that a child could make it move.

“We are a logan stone at this moment in time. With the right effort, we can move ourselves in any direction we choose—and I am looking forward to helping to apply that pressure.”

Reece’s role provides the Vice-Chancellor with strategic advice, support and ensures key areas of the University are well connected and that as an institution we are prioritising the right things. He will also have oversight of Planning and Information Management Strategy, and our Sustainability Office.

Reece also acknowledged the difficult times the University has faced this year, but expressed his hope for what’s next.

“In my cover letter for this position I wrote that for the tertiary sector to meet the challenges of the 21st century, those that we serve expect a new model that works for today, tomorrow, and right into the 22nd century.

“We need to fiercely guard the best of the traditions that form the foundation of such a world-class institution as ours, but be flexible—adapt, pivot, and remain relevant to those that we deliver to.

“Every member of staff who I have met since starting here has spoken to me about the enormous untapped potential of this institution, latent but ready to meet that goal—and I am greatly looking forward to my role in helping us realise it.”

Tina Wakefield, Chief Operating Officer, leads the University’s Property, ICT, Legal and Campus Operations teams. She compared the complexity of work at the University with the complexity of her previous role at the Ministry of Justice, noting the independent thinking of both academics and judges.

“I have very much enjoyed my first weeks at Te Herenga Waka. The people that I have met are incredible and I look forward to working with them further. Thank you for this warm welcome.”