Kia hono mai ki te kaupapa
— Discover what’s happening across our Rangahau kaupapa.
He Pānui Rangahau - April 2026
Acknowledging Dr Rebecca Kiddle
Dr Rebecca Kiddle (Paemanu - Te Manawahoukura Wāhanga), concluded her time with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa this month. It is fair to say that without Becky’s visionary leadership, drive and commitment, Te Manawahoukura would not be positioned as it is today. Becky joined TWoA in February 2023, and one of her first major kaupapa was the establishment of our Te Manawahoukura Rangahau Centre, alongside the development of our Te Manawahoukura website.
Under her leadership, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has seen the growth of a strong and visible Rangahau culture, including online kaupapa‑based presentations and workshops, the establishment of a three‑month Rangahau residency, Contestable Rangahau Dissemination funding, and the hosting of Te Hui Taumata – a national Rangahau symposium showcasing a wide range of research and Rangahau by TWoA kaimahi and kaiako. Equally commendable is the establishment of a highly respected and intellectually generous team of kairangahau, bringing together deep disciplinary expertise, kaupapa Māori scholarship, and leadership across Rangahau, policy, and practice. Through these contributions of consequence, Becky has embedded a strong foundation for a sustainable Rangahau culture, creating space for kaimahi and kaiako to contribute, lead, and grow.
While her next chapter is yet to unfold, we take this moment to celebrate Becky’s leadership, her vision, and the enduring legacy she leaves, wishing her all the very best for what lies ahead. With her departure, Te Manawahoukura enters a new phase, one firmly grounded in the strong foundations she established, while mindful of the future direction now taking shape.
Romana Potts secures major research funding
Romana Potts (Ngāti Kurī, Muriwhenua), a Te Ihu-based kaiako of Te Ara Reo Māori, has been awarded nearly $300,000 in funding from the Coastal People : Southern Skies Centre of Research Excellence (CPSS) for a two-year Rangahau project titled He Pū Rākau Tuku Iho, He Taiao Matomato e! Wai Ora – Ngā Wai O Ngā Ariki.
The application process involved an Expression of Interest (EOI) initially and after being ranked in the top 30% of the EOIs, Romana was asked to submit a full proposal. Only 50% of the full proposals submitted were expected to be funded so this is an incredible achievement.
This Kaupapa Rangahau is about restoring the old Tikanga of our ancient Tūpuna, guided by the Pū Rākau, to develop wānanga on the whenua of these ancient peoples, and restoring their amazing tikanga, tūpuna kōrero, pūrākau, karakia, and whakapapa that was woven into the Kaitiakitanga and Mauri Ora of our Taiao. The focus is on bringing these practices back, as they are slowly disappearing from our Ao Māori today, due to acceleration of colonisation. These Pū Rākau of our ancient whakapapa lines and the wisdom developed from our whenua and moana needs to continue as the foundation to tīaki the Mauri Ora, ake, ake, ake! The Wānanga Rangahau will allow the mātauranga to be collected and learned via Te Reo Rangatira, as waiata, Pao, Pū Rākau, Karakia, Ritenga, Whakapapa, Kōrero Tūpuna, and then activated through mahi Tūpuna with modern resources that will that enhance our tūpuna practices. Wānanga Rangahau will be established to share the mātauranga and develop strategies for practicing these tikanga from our whenua to the tai. The focus for this Kaupapa will be based at our marae, Wai Ora, and will follow our awa, Ngātaki, to the tai at Rarawa beach. Our Tūpuna Practices will guide us to collect the mātauranga we need to be able to develop tikanga and ritenga for the Kaitiakitanga of this takiwā. We will also have wānanga at Manu Hopukia to learn and place these ancient tikanga, Pū Rākau in pou, that will tautoko and also tīaki our Kaupapa at Wai Ora Marae.
This project will establish (ongoing) wānanga at our marae to activate our kaitiakitanga practices, informed by our Tūpuna practices, so that our uri and Taiao thrive in harmony.
Romana was supported by the Rangahau & Innovation team who sit within the Rangahau Centre of Te Manawahoukura and the kaupapa that he will be working on evolved during the development of his full proposal. A further dimension of this project is its focus on creating opportunities for capacity and capability building for the communities engaged in the kaupapa. We wish Romana every success as he moves forward with this kaupapa.
The Rangahau & Innovation team welcome enquiries and ideas for future kaupapa and can be contacted at RI-tari@twoa.ac.nz
Dr Joni Angeli-Gordon to Paemanu (Director)
We are pleased to acknowledge the appointment of Dr Joni Angeli‑Gordon (Te Roroa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) as Paemanu (Director) Rangahau (Te Manawahoukura), Degree and Postgraduate Delivery, on secondment until November 2026.
Since joining Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2020, Joni has held several key roles across Rangahau, most recently as Co‑Director Rangahau. She brings strong experience in kaupapa Māori research, teaching, and leadership, with a research focus grounded in mātauranga Māori, wellbeing, and the flourishing of tamariki, whānau, and communities.
Joni is a respected researcher, mentor, and leader, with a proven track record in postgraduate supervision, research publication, and grant‑funded kaupapa Māori projects.
We congratulate Joni on this well‑deserved secondment. We look forward to the transformation that her leadership will influence for Te Manawahoukura.
