E kore au e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea.

Te Wānanga o Raukawa (TWoR) is honoured to announce a momentous milestone in their journey. Dr Mereana Selby (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Huia, Ngāti Porou) has been appointed as Te Amokapua, the newly elected Chair of Te Mana Whakahaere (TMW), the governing board of Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

Dr Selby’s return to a leadership role marks a powerful reaffirmation of their unwavering commitment to iwi-led education, the advancement of mātauranga Māori, and the restoration of cultural authority. Her appointment reflects the strength of their kaupapa and the enduring legacy of leadership grounded in whakapapa, tikanga, and te reo Māori.

TWoR celebrates this significant moment with pride and looks forward to the continued growth under her guidance.

This appointment honours a legacy that spans generations strengthening the connection between kaupapa Māori governance and transformative education for the ART Confederation (Ngāti Raukawa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira).

Dr Selby is synonymous with the evolution of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. From her early career as a te reo Māori educator, to her historic appointment as the first Māori woman Tumuaki of a wānanga, she has consistently led with humility, clarity, and unwavering commitment to kaupapa.

Dr Selby’s influence extends beyond the institution. She has been a national advocate for Māori language revitalisation, indigenous research sovereignty, and the reclamation of educational frameworks grounded in tikanga. She has mentored generations of students, researchers, and emerging leaders.

As Te Amokapua, she returns as a spiritual and strategic leader at the governance level, ensuring that the values and vision of TWoR remain firmly anchored in the aspirations of its founding iwi. Dr Selby will lead TMW, who are responsible for setting the long-term direction of the Wānanga, grounded in kaupapa tuku iho. Her guidance will shape decision-making on matters that influence not only the institution’s operations, but also its very essence — its partnerships with iwi, its embodiment of tino rangatiratanga.

Her leadership reaffirms the founding vision of Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, the 25-year plan established to strengthen iwi identity and capability through education. That vision continues to be lived today, as the Wānanga grows its reach, its scholarship, and its impact across Aotearoa and beyond.

“Māori know how to build institutions that reflect our worldviews, our obligations to one another, and our futures,” Mereana shared. “This appointment is not about me it is about honouring the people who laid the foundation, the whānau who keep us grounded, and the generations yet to come.”

Tumuaki of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Professor Meihana Durie has welcomed the latest appointment. “As a former and longstanding Tumuaki, Mereana is innately aware of the unique distinctions but also the longer-term strategic priorities of our Wānanga as a non-Crown entity moving forward, and I join with fellow Te Mana Whakahaere members in welcoming her appointment. 

I wish to also acknowledge the leadership of Manurere Devonshire, Ngāti Manomano, who has overseen Te Mana Whakahaere since the retirement of our earlier Amokapua, Robin Hapi, and I thank Manurere for her considerable contribution to our Wānanga.”

Dr Selby steps into the role following a successful tenure as Tumuaki of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, which concluded earlier this year with the appointment of Professor Meihana Durie. Together, through distinct and complementary roles, they represent a powerful continuity of vision, one focused on iwi development, cultural resurgence, and education that places Māori at the centre.