SIT celebrates nearly 25 years of Te Wānanga O Aotearoa partnership
Publish Date: Tuesday, 3 March 2026
SIT celebrates nearly 25 years of Te Wānanga O Aotearoa partnership
SIT Kaumatua Michael Skerrett (pictured) led the pōwhiri for the recent visit of Evie O’Brien, Chief Executive of Te Wānanga O Aotearoa (TWOA) and colleagues, who visited new SIT CEO, Bharat Guha and management, providing an opportunity to reflect on the success of their almost 25-year partnership. Photo: SIT

A pōwhiri held recently at Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) to welcome the Chief Executive of Te Wānanga O Aotearoa signified the depth and longevity of the partnership between the two entities

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The pōwhiri welcomed Evie O’Brien, Te Kura Toroa, Chief Executive of Te Wānanga O Aotearoa (TWOA), Vanessa Eparaima, Chairperson of Te Mana Whakahaere, TWOA’s council, and Haimona Maruera, Pou Ārahi Te Ngira Kōtuitui - General Manager Cultural Integrity, who visited SIT on 13th February to meet with new CEO, Bharat Guha and SIT management, providing an opportunity to reflect on the success of their almost 25-year partnership. 

 

Initiated by former SIT CEO, now MP for Invercargill, Hon Penny Simmonds, who worked with TWOA founder, Rongo Wetere, to form the collaboration in 2005, TWOA have a strategic partnership arrangement to deliver Te Reo Māori - Māori language programmes to SIT students under SIT's Zero Fees Scheme. SIT students can also learn tikanga - Māori customary system of values and practices, and they can develop both practical skills and creativity through certificates and diplomas in weaving - Ngā Toi (Arts).

 

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was founded in 1984 and is the largest indigenous tertiary provider in New Zealand offering a uniquely Māori learning environment for all its students. Evie O’Brien says their partnership with SIT has resulted in thousands of students being supported to learn te reo Māori, deepen their understanding of tikanga and strengthen their connection to te ao Māori.

 

“Te Wananga o Aotearoa is proud of our long-standing relationship with the Southern Institute of Technology. It is a partnership that is unique within the tertiary education sector – one that exemplifies a strengths-based approach to meeting the needs and aspirations of our communities.”

 

Since its inception at SIT, the TWOA programmes have seen nearly 5,000 students learn Te Ara Reo, Tikanga and Māori Visual Arts; the largest number – over 4,000 – in Māori language programmes, and more than 900 students have learnt Visual Arts and Tikanga. 

 

Jodi Conway, Student Support Services Team Leader, describes the SIT – TWOA collaboration as significant and important to Murihiku Southland. “We are still strong today and going forward together,” she says.   

 

SIT CEO, Bharat Guha, says “It was a real privilege to welcome Evie O’Brien, Vanessa Eparaima, and Haimona Maruera.”

 

“We acknowledge the strength of the partnership that has enriched SIT and our community for 25 years. We are proud of what we have achieved together, and we look forward to building opportunities that will continually empower our learners for our communities.”