Dr Ngata’s nomination reads:

Dr Wayne Ngata (Ngāti Ira, Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Hauiti) is active in the revitalisation of te reo Māori and education models that are underpinned by Māori processes, and is also a specialist in Māori literature and long-time advocate for Māori art.

Dr Ngata helped establish Māori Studies at the Tairawhiti Polytechnic (now EIT Tairawhiti) in the 1990s. Together with Te Aitanga a Hauiti, he has developed strong working and research relationships with regional, national and international institutions in the areas of indigenous art knowledge. He is a practitioner, composer and advocate for haka and mōteatea. He is a practitioner of waka hourua navigation and voyaging, participating in the Te Waka Tapu voyage from New Zealand to Rapanui, and in 2019 had a leadership role in the Tuia 250 commemorative events in New Zealand.

He has helped develop health programmes with a Māori approach, including the Atua Matua Māori Health Framework and The Horouta Collective for Te Hauora o Te Aitanga o Hauiti. He has had several academic, management and governance roles at EIT Tairawhiti, the MacDiarmid Institute, the Ministry of Education, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiārangi, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Dr Ngata is a Board member of Te Kura ā-Iwi o Mangatuna and the Tertiary Education Commission, and Board Chair of Taumata Aronui.

According to DPMC, “the New Zealand Order of Merit recognises New Zealanders who have given meritorious service to the Crown and Nation, or have become distinguished by their contribution to their individual fields.”

We are very fortunate to have such a great leader and strong advocate for Māori learners helping to guide us at TEC.