Executive receives prestigious University of Waikato award

MEDIA RELEASE

1 September 2014

Waikato-Tainui Chief Executive receives prestigious University of Waikato award

Waikato-Tainui Chief Executive Parekawhia McLean will be recognised for her impact in public policy and the public sector with a University of Waikato Distinguished Alumni Award later this month.

Parekawhia McLean (Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto) gained a Bachelor and Master of Social Sciences from the University of Waikato in 1992, and later attained an MA in Public Administration and Development Policy from the University of Wisconsin.

After leaving Waikato, Ms McLean began a career in public service in Wellington where she worked in a number of agencies, including the Ministry of Māori Development, Women’s Affairs, the Ministry for the Environment, the State Services Commission, Te Puni Kokiri and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Ms McLean was a strategic advisor to three of New Zealand’s Prime Ministers – Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark, and current University of Waikato Chancellor Jim Bolger. She also had two stints in ministers’ offices, with the Honourable Sir Douglas Kidd in the 1990s and with the late Honourable Parekura Horomia in 2001.

Ms McLean is currently part of the group overseeing the development of a Waikato regional economic strategy, and has recently become a director of Te Putahitanga o Te Waipoumanu – the whānau ora commissioning entity for the South Island.

She is also a former director of Mighty River Power and former board member of Te Mangai Pāho (the Māori Broadcasting Agency) and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

University of Waikato Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Alister Jones says the university is proud to be presenting Ms McLean with a Distinguished Alumni Award. “Her contributions to public policy are a reflection of her outstanding commitment to her community, and we are delighted to be honouring her success.”

Ms McLean credits the support of her whanau for her career success. “I am humbled and honoured to receive this award on behalf of my whanau and many others who have supported me over the years. Without them I would not be the person I am today or have achieved what I have.”

The University of Waikato’s Distinguished Alumni Awards for 2014 will be presented on September 19 at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.

This year, as the University marks its 50th anniversary, four alumni will be recognised with Distinguished Alumni Awards. The other recipients are adventurer, consultant and motivational speaker Jamie Fitzgerald; economist Dr Arthur Grimes and author and inaugural director of the Pacific Island Education Resource Centre Le Mamea Taulapapa Sefulu Ioane.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate and honour Waikato alumni who have made outstanding contributions in their careers and communities, taking into account excellence in the professional, cultural, creative and voluntary sectors.

All recipients receive a limited edition cast-glass figure created exclusively for the award by local artist Di Tocker.

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