“In the short time you've been with us, you have fully immersed yourself here at Unitec. You've been everywhere," said Deputy CE, Academic Professor Martin Carroll, in his welcome address.

 

"The job you have here is massive. I'm sorry it's taken Unitec so long to have Pacific expertise as part of our Professoriate. We should have got there sooner but we're here now. It doesn't all have to rest on your shoulders, but you're going to pave the way. 

 

Unitec kaimahi present at his pōwhiri included members of the Senior Leadership Team, Heads of Schools, support services and kaimahi from the Pacific Centre and Maori/MAIA teams.

 

"You will I hope be the first of many Pacific members of the Professoriate here. You are our hope, the first of many who will fulfill the promise that we try to make every day that we will be relevant and meaningful partners for Pacific people here in Tāmaki Makaurau and generally,” said Prof Carroll. 

 

Associate Professor, Ngā Wai a Te Tūī, Byron Rangiwai added: "Lefaoali'i brings to Unitec a dedicated focus on Indigenous knowledge, Pacific languages, and decolonising education."

 

"Through his scholarship, leadership, and commitment to Indigenous knowledge, he will broaden research and learning opportunities, particularly for Māori and Pacific communities. His presence will strengthen culturally responsive academic spaces that empower students and staff, inspiring meaningful engagement with Indigenous perspectives in education and beyond."

 

Lefaoalii, 35, was humbled by the experience and what it means to him and his family. 

 

"It's surreal, it's a dream from many years ago finally coming true," said Lefaoalii, whose aunt was a cleaner at Unitec in the 1990s. 

 

"I think of a lot of the people who've helped me along the way in terms of my academic journey so just to ensure that I be that person who will pay it forward since I have been blessed by so many people who've helped me."

 

He also reflected on the significance of his arrival at Unitec and the difference it will make to the academic community.

 

"I look at this title not in terms of a title from the ivory tower, but a title where I can represent my people more effectively and to make that real life impactful change and to use my research as a form of tautua (service) to our communities and future Māori and Pacific generations to come," he explains.

 

Among those who accompanied him was his mother who travelled from Australia, family members who flew in from America and former colleagues from AUT. Family members also carried a photo of his late grandmother Kiki Evelyn Lucy Caroline Langkilde Purcell. 

 

 

"This was to acknowledge her vision to come from Samoa to Aotearoa which is the reason why I am here today."

Assoc Prof Lefaoalii Dion Enari works across Ngā Wai a Te Tūī (Māori and Indigenous Research Centre) and Unitec’s School of Healthcare and Social Practice.