Outgoing Wananga chief Nepia Winiata can testify to the mana of his successor.
Te Mana Whakahaere council chair Vanessa Eparaima, left, welcomes new Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaiwhakatere chief executive Evie O’Brien onto the Te Awamutu campus. Photo: Irene Maton
He and Evie Nepia started at Te Wananga o Aotearoa on the same day almost 20 years ago in 2008.
Nepia Winiata
“We had a pōwhiri, like this, together. She was my boss,” he recalled.
Winiata held various roles at the wānanga, the last three as kaiwhakatere – chief executive – after a year as deputy.
“I am very excited that Evie got the role as she is a very caring leader.”
The wānanga welcomed O’Brien with a pōwhiri at its Te Awamutu headquarters for the second time lasty week.
Winiata said the wānanga changed the way it conducted assessments and delivered additional training to taiako – teachers – in the wake of a NZ Qualifications Authority report in 2018.
“We are a lot better off after we went through that,” Winiata said.
Te Makau Ariki, left, with Evie O’Brien. Photo: Chris Gardner
It had been a privilege and honour to serve the wānanga, he said.
“It’s feeling a bit weird, to be honest. Realising I soon won’t be here is something new.”
Winiata decided to go into semi-retirement a year ago and is planning on taking up governance positions after a handover to O’Brien and his exit this month.
O’Brien arrived at the campus as manuhiri. She walked slowly, head bowed in respect, a kete of peace, goodness and love in hand, surrounded by around 150 whānau, friends and colleagues.
The atmosphere was electric as tangata whenua welcomed the party of Te Wānanga’s first wahine kaiwhakatere chief executive.
O’Brien, who left the wananga in 2014 as acting kaihautū National Delivery, spent nearly four years as executive director of the University of Oxford based Atlantic Institute: Rhodes Trust, where she was focussed on addressing systematic causes of inequity. Her supporters included New Zealand Rhodes scholars Rhieve Grey, Isabella Lenihan-Ikin and Zak Devey. University of Melbourne assistant vice-chancellor Prof James McCluskey travelled the furthest.
Te Makau Ariki, wife of the late Māori King Tūheitia, was among those attending.
O’Brien, whose whakapapa includes Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Maniapoto, was welcomed by council chair Vanessa Eparaima, supported by fellow council members.
“Evie has spent the last decade enhancing her knowledge and skills both nationally and internationally,” Eparaima said.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaiwhakatere chief executive Evie O’Brien was welcomed with a powhiri last month.
“She has extensive experience in senior leadership roles across the tertiary education sector, a deep understanding of and strong relationships within our organisation, and a clear passion and commitment to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.”
“I just feel an incredible sense of responsibility and I don’t want to let anyone down,” O’Brien told The News after the pōwhiri.
She acknowledged predecessors Dr Rongo Wetere, Bentham Ohia, Dr Jim Mather, Te Ururoa Flavell, and Winiata whose efforts she said had provided a strong foundation for the future.
“Today’s pōwhiri reminded me of the importance of whakapapa, of whanaungatanga, and of the enduring kaupapa of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, which remains to transform our whānau through education. Although we face many challenges, I am excited to lead this incredible organisation into its next chapter.”
O’Brien’s appointment coincides with a year of celebrations marking the organisation’s 40th anniversary.
Te Wananga o Aotearoa kaiwhakatere chief executive Evie O’Brien hosted US President Bill Clinton while she was executive director of the University of Oxford based Atlantic Institute: Rhodes Trust. 
Evie O’Brien arrives at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa with about 150 whānau, friends and colleagues. Photo: Irene Maton
