He Pānui Rangahau
This pānui is for us to stay connected, share updates, and keep everyone informed about what’s happening across our kaupapa in the Rangahau space.
Nau mai, haere mai Dr Arama Rata
It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Dr Arama Rata, who joins us as our Aukaha Hauora. Arama brings a depth of experience across rangahau, strategy, and teaching, and was up until today, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland. Her work is grounded in Māori cultural engagement, identity, and wellbeing, underpinned by strong Kaupapa Māori approaches and a commitment to research that serves whānau and communities.
In her role as Aukaha Hauora, Arama will provide leadership across the Bachelor of Bicultural Social Work and Kaitiakitanga programmes. She brings a powerful ability to move between strategic vision and practical implementation, supporting teams to align around a shared kaupapa while still holding space for innovation, growth, and the unique strengths of each programme.
Arama has led large-scale research initiatives, developed frameworks that bring cohesion to diverse teams, and has a strong track record of mentoring and growing research capability in others. She also brings significant experience in securing research funding and building networks that extend both nationally and internationally.
Beyond all of that, she is someone who cares deeply about people and the potential of our mahi to make a meaningful difference. I am genuinely excited about what her leadership will bring to our hauora space and to the wider Wānanga.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Arama. I encourage you to reach out, connect, and share in the collective work ahead.
Nau mai Dr Moses Ma’alo Faleolo
We are privileged to acknowledge the work and leadership of Dr Moses Ma’alo Faleolo, who carries the paramount chiefly title-Gisa, bestowed by the village of Falelima in Savai'i, Sāmoa.
Dr Faleolo brings an extraordinary depth of experience across both practice and academia. Beginning his career as a youth justice social worker, he has spent over three decades working across residential care, youth justice, and specialist youth work, before moving into tertiary education as a senior social work lecturer at Manukau Institute of Technology, Massey University, and most recently, Victoria University.
He is widely recognised as a pioneer in Pacific Criminology, having co-organised the world’s first Pacific Criminology Symposium in 2022 and co-edited a landmark international journal issue in 2024 dedicated to the field. His contributions have been acknowledged through the Indigenous Justice Award from the Australia and New Zealand Society of Criminology.
In 2024, Dr Faleolo was further honoured with a Royal Society Te Apārangi Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship, recognising his leadership in developing Pacific-centred approaches to justice, including innovative work in gang violence prevention.
Through his work, Dr Faleolo continues to shape thinking, practice, and research in ways that centre Pacific voices, uphold cultural authority, and strengthen pathways for future generations.
Nau mai, whakatau mai e te rangatira