Kelly Mitchell (Ngāti Māhanga)

Kelly Mitchell is an elected student representative on Council.

Kelly Mitchell (Ngāti Māhanga) is a current student and academic staff member at Te Herenga Waka. In 2023, she graduated with a conjoint LLB and BA (Te reo Māori and Māori Studies) and commenced postgraduate study.

In 2021 she served on the komiti of Ngā Rangahautira (the University's Māori Law students' association), and in 2022 as co-president of Ngāi Tauira (the University's Māori students' association). Within these roles she worked to increase Māori student engagement, retention, and success at the University, particularly in the face of COVID-19 and growing financial inequity.

In 2022, alongside her komiti whakahaere, she also coordinated the University's celebration of the 50th anniversary of Te Petihana Reo Māori, which was delivered by students of our Te Herenga Waka in 1972.

Kelly has strong advocacy and research interests in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te reo Māori, rangatahi success, and prison abolition.

Current term

1 January 2023–31 December 2024

Number of previous terms

None