Awanuiārangi recognises academics with professorial status

MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, Whakatāne

Awanuiārangi recognises respected academics with professorial status

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi will bestow professorial status on four senior academic staff at a special ceremony in Whakatāne on Thursday, December 1.

The appointments recognise the significant work of four Awanuiārangi academics in their professional fields:

· Associate Professor Nathan Matthews will be appointed to the position of Professor.
· Associate Professor Paul Kayes will be appointed to the position of Professor.
· Associate Professor Virginia Warriner will be appointed to the position of Professor.
· Senior Lecturer/Researcher Dr Vaughan Bidois will be appointed to the position of Associate Professor.

Awanuiārangi chief executive Professor Wiremu Doherty said the appointments highlight the strong contribution to Awanuiārangi and the community from the four recipients through their work and achievement.

“These appointments recognise the scholarly status and contribution to public good by respected Awanuiārangi academics, in their respective disciplines within the academic arena and within the communities we serve.

“The appointments follow the recommendation from a specially constituted panel, which included an external advisor and considered each of the candidates’ contributions to teaching, learning, supervision, research, leadership and community service..”

The Professorial Ceremony will be attended by the Council, executive and professorial staff of Awanuiārangi in full regalia, and community dignitaries including the Mayor and representatives of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa.

Professor Doherty said it was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the depth of academic talent within Awanuiarangi, and it was a good opportunity for the Council, staff and the community to come together to celebrate and acknowledge the expertise, knowledge and achievement of the four recipients.

Appointed to the position of Professor:
Associate Professor Nathan Matthews is Head of School – Indigenous Graduate Studies. He has a PhD from the University of Otago and has been involved in Māori education at tertiary level for 15 years. He was Executive Director of Education of two partnership schools based in Whangarei, and prior to that was a Senior Lecturer in Māori Education at Massey University, where he was also Chair of one of Massey University’s Human Ethics Committees, part of the Institute of Education’s promotions committee, a member of the College Board (Education), and a member of the University Doctoral Research Committee.

Associate Professor Paul Kayes co-ordinates the Masters Programme for the School of Indigenous Graduate Studies. He completed his Doctorate of Science Education, Research and Teaching at Curtin University of Technology in 2007, and has 30 years’ experience in education. His research interests include science education, marine and environmental education and education leadership. He is a life member and founder of Tauranga Water Polo Club and a life member of Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club.

Associate Professor Virginia Warriner co-ordinates the Doctoral Programme for the School of Indigenous Graduate Studies. A doctoral graduate of Massey University, the focus of her thesis was how Māori businesses export their products and services. Her current research areas are Māori economic development, entrepreneurship, sustainability and innovation. She has been extensively involved in whānau, hapū and iwi matters for Ngāti Whatua/Te Uri o Hau and Ngāti Porou, including governorship, treaty settlement, Kaipara harbour management and the Iwi Leaders Forum.

Appointed to the position of Associate Professor:
Dr Vaughan Bidois is a Senior Lecturer/Researcher in the Schools of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, Programme Co-ordinator for the Te Tohu Toi Tangata: Bachelor of Humanities, and Acting Programme Co-ordinator for Te Tohu Paetahi Ako: Bachelor of Education degree. Dr Bidois completed his PhD in Māori Studies through the University of Otago in 2012. His research areas include education, critical pedagogy and theory, cultural studies, identity theory and politics, and Kaupapa Māori theory. He is a Trustee for Sport Bay of Plenty and is a past Assistant Coach for Steamers Bay of Plenty Development Team.

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