This week MIT/Unitec Board Chair Peter Winder announced the appointment of Keith Ikin (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Apakura) as our Pou Hautu.
This appointment has set an historical benchmark in New Zealand’s tertiary sector and our Pou Hautu will co-lead both institutes alongside Chief Executive Gus Gilmore.
Keith brings to the role more than 20 years senior leadership experience in Māori advancement coupled with an in-depth knowledge of the vocational and tertiary education sector.
He says “I am grateful to the Board and to the Rūnanga and Kaimahi Māori at Unitec and MIT for the opportunity to take this role as Pou Hautu. This is a significant first for vocational education in New Zealand. To work with both organisations at a time of significant change is a great challenge “
The Pou Hautu position shares responsibility and authority with the Chief Executive and the roles will lead Unitec and MIT in partnership working alongside the Executive Leadership Team.
Gus says “I look forward to honouring our responsibility to Te Tiriti alongside our Pou Hautu and am excited our institutes have been given an opportunity to lead by example and clearly demonstrate the value of establishing a genuine balance of mana in leadership.”
Keith participated in a rigorous interview process which included input and participation from Mana Whenua, Māori stakeholders and Unitec’s Māori staff collective Te Rōpū Mataara and Māori staff representatives from MIT.
He says “There is much to be done in a short time so I look forward to working with all within Auckland with a commitment to achieving vocational opportunities for our whanau,”
Pae Ārahi Hare Paniora says “This journey has strengthened the whanaungatanga (relationships) between MIT and Unitec and honours rangatira before us who dedicated their lives to advancing Māori aspirations in education.”
Unitec/ MIT Board Chair Peter Winder says Keith was an outstanding candidate with the mana, experience, listening skills and humility that we need at this time.
“We expect that his recent experience in the Ngāti Maniapoto Treaty settlement will greatly assist in forging deeper and more meaningful relationships between MIT and Unitec and mana whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Winder.
The Pou Hautu will have a direct reporting line to the Board and provide dedicated attention to driving equitable outcomes for tauira Māori, supporting and strengthening relationships with mana whenua and ensuring the provision of a healthy and safe environment for tauira and kaimahi Māori.
The establishment of this model demonstrates a clear commitment to upholding expectations outlined by the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins in his ‘Letter of Expectations’ to Te Pūkenga in 2019.
The Minister issued clear directives to education sector agencies and Crown entity providers to genuinely partner with Māori across governance, management and operations to give true effect to Te Tiriti and improve outcomes for Māori.
The Pou Hautu and the Chief Executive will guide MIT and Unitec as it prepares to merge into Te Pūkenga this year.