Taharangi provides leadership for improving ākonga Māori outcomes, retention and success, while championing embedding Mātauranga Māori and Tīkanga Māori across the institute and developing our cultural capability to incorporate indigenous knowledge into our training and all aspects of Unitec life. 

“It’s a significant honour, I don’t take lightly,” Ms Merito says. 

“As kaimahi Māori, we uphold the legacy, vision and forethought of those who have come before us; the likes of Sir John Turei , Dame June Mariu and others who created for us a model of what partnership looks like in Te Noho Kotahitanga, with continued guidance from Matua Hare Paniora and Whaea Lynda Toki.”

“Ko ngā mihi manahau, harikoa, kua whiwhi i a Vivienne Merito te tūranga o Te Taharangi. Ka noho ia waenganui ngā tino rangatira o Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka. Kia Ora Ngāti Awa!,” says Hare Paniora, MNZM, Pae Arahi – Unitec. 

(Translation: Huge delight and jubilation at the appointment of Vivienne Merito to the Taharangi position, and to now be part of Unitec’s Senior Leadership Team. Congrats to Ngāti Awa!)

“We know the passion and drive Viv has for advancing the aspirations of ākonga and kaimahi Māori at Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka,” says Te Pūkenga Region 1 executive director, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

“It’s great to have Viv’s strong voice at the senior leadership table,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

Viv is on her second stint with Unitec, this one beginning in 2019. Prior to that she worked in communications and marketing in fields ranging from financial services to education both in Aotearoa and United Kingdom. 

“I’m looking forward to bringing that professional lens into the position. Being able to work closely with our whānau Māori and beyond, developing iwi relationships, as we move forward to meet the needs of Māori learners and communities,” Viv says. 

Ms Merito, who currently holds the key portfolios of Māia, Marketing, Communication and Industry Partnerships has been acting in the position on an interim basis since late last year. She will transition into the role of Taharangi fulltime next month.