The document puts five principles into practice to underpin Unitec's goals. These are:

  • Rangatiratanga - Authority and Responsibility
  • Wakaritenga - Legitimacy
  • Kaitiakitanga - Guardianship
  • Mahi Kotahitanga - Co-operation
  • Ngākau Māhaki – Respect

Kupu Whakatau

Ko te Tiriti o Waitangi te kawenata mo to tatau motu, Aotearoa.
He kawenata whakahirahira, ko te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka e tautoko ana i te noho kotahitanga a te Māori me te Pākehā.
Ko te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka ka u tonu ki te whakamana i ngā kaupapa me ona puawaitanga.

Preamble

The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand.
Unitec acknowledges the great importance of this living, dynamic document, and will continue to respect and promote the equal standing which it confers on Māori and Pākehā. Unitec will put the following values into practice in pursuing its goals:

I - Rangatiratanga
E whakarite ana te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka ki te putake ake o te rangatiratanga o te Māori me ngā matauranga Māori.

I - Authority and Responsibility
Unitec accepts the principle that Māori have authority over and responsibility for all teaching and learning relating to the Māori dimensions of knowledge.

II - Wakaritenga 
E whakarite ana te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka ki te mana o tena, o tena, ki te noho kotahi, ki te puaki i tona ake reo, ki te whakamahi i ngā rawa mo ngā iwi katoa.

II - Legitimacy
Unitec believes that each partner has a legitimate right to be here, to speak freely in either language, and to put its resources to use for the benefit of all.

III - Kaitiakitanga
E whakarite ana te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka ki te kaitiakitanga o ngā taonga matauranga.

III - Guardianship
Unitec accepts responsibility as a critical guardian of knowledge.

IV - Mahi Kotahitanga 
E whakarite ana te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka kia tau he ngākau māhaki i roto i ngā mahi katoa.

IV - Co-operation
Unitec affirms that a spirit of generosity and co-operation will guide all its actions.

V - Ngākau Māhaki
E whakarite ana te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka ki te whakanui i ngā taonga tuku iho o ngā ao e rua, a hikoi ki mua.
Ko te Māori me te Pākehā e mahi tahi ana mo Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka.

V - Respect
Unitec values each partner's heritage and customs, current needs and future aspirations.
Māori and Pākehā working together within Unitec.