More than 120 past recipients, University supporters, whānau and friends gathered in the marae, Ngā Mokopuna and Te Tumu Herenga Waka, for an evening of storytelling and reflection. Hosted by broadcaster Carol Hirschfeld, the conversations with each of the recipients revealed the diverse paths they have taken since their student days—and the lasting role of a Te Herenga Waka education in shaping their journeys.
This year’s winners—comedian Dai Henwood, diplomat David Harland, actor and director Tanea Heke, historian Vincent O’Malley, and physicist Ratu Mataira—embody the University’s values through their creativity, courage, and commitment to making a difference in Aotearoa and the world.
Dai Henwood: The Entertainer
Comedian and television host Dai Henwood ONZM reflected on more than two decades on stage and screen, and on how his cancer diagnosis has sharpened his perspective on life.
Dai, who studied theatre, film and Eastern religion at the University, said those early courses continue to shape his outlook. “Optimism won’t cure me, but pessimism will kill me,” he told the audience.
“Cancer crystallises time. All I have is 24 hours, so every morning I wake up and think, hey, I’ve got today, so let’s enjoy it.”
He spoke about how to support loved ones through illness. “Kindness, openness, don’t shy away. And to people suffering from cancer, let people in.
“Cancer doesn’t define me—how I respond to cancer defines me, and I feel like I’ve responded by holding my head up high with dignity, and by helping people.”
David Harland: The Peacemaker
Dr David Harland, Executive Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva, has devoted his career to international peacebuilding. His story began as a Bachelor of Arts student at Te Herenga Waka, where he studied languages, including Chinese.
He recalled his childhood in China during the Cultural Revolution. “For a little kid from just up the hill here, it completely changed my life. I have spent a whole life travelling, I have learned and forgotten a lot of languages, but the bones of Chinese stick with me 40, 50 years later.”
While working for the United Nations, he felt compelled to join a humanitarian airlift into Sarajevo. “I sold my horse, gave away my riding crop, and swapped my black riding hard hat for a blue helmet. They put me on a military flight into Sarajevo under siege… and I realised my life had changed forever.”
Reflecting on today’s conflicts, David noted, “There are now several hundred thousand people who are killed in warfare every year, and the number of people killed is growing, and the length of those wars is growing. But amidst these wars, there is a well of love and joy that is in there somewhere.”
Tanea Heke: The Connector
Actor, director, producer, and Tumuaki/Director of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School Tanea Heke MNZM, spoke about her journey and the challenges of working in the creative sector.
Adopted into a loving pākehā family, she shared experiences of racism but emphasised her resilience. “At the end of the day, it’s all about love. You can only focus on the good stuff.”
Throughout her career, Tanea has championed Māori voices on stage and screen, despite the challenges Māori have faced in the creative sector. “The person holding the purse strings was still pākehā. And the person who did the commissioning was still pākehā. And the person who really ran the whole thing was a pākehā, and I wonder, well, how could that be? Because they’re our stories. So, we’ve got to be in charge of that ourselves.”
Vincent O’Malley: The Storyteller
Historian Vincent O’Malley FRHistS FRSNZ is known for his groundbreaking books on the New Zealand Wars, which have reshaped understanding of Aotearoa’s past and informed the school curriculum.
His passion was sparked by the absence of local history in his own schooling. “My history teacher told me that New Zealand history was boring, and nothing happened here. Why didn’t I learn this history at school? It’s the opposite of boring—it’s fundamental to who we are as a people, as a nation. We need to be big enough and brave enough to accept that history. It’s a part of who we are.”
He cited the story of Ōtorohanga College students Leah Bell and Waimarama Anderson, whose petition led to New Zealand history being taught in schools. “They visited two of the sites where the worst atrocities of the New Zealand wars were committed. They hadn’t learnt any of that history at their school, and they’re only about 20 minutes away from the site. They went back to class and thought, ‘Why aren’t we learning about this stuff, and what can we do about it?’ And they changed history, that’s what they did about it.”
Ratu Mataira: The Pioneer
Physicist and entrepreneur Ratu Mataira, founder and CEO of OpenStar Technologies, is at the forefront of nuclear fusion research. After completing his PhD in superconductivity physics at the University’s Paihau Robinson Research Institute, he launched a start-up now valued at $20 million.
“I wanted to be somewhere where opportunities were everywhere, and I could pursue all of them as aggressively as I could,” he said of his decision to study for his PhD at Paihau.
Inspired by the urgency of climate change, he explained, “I was given this amazing opportunity to do something about it. It might not be the thing that gets it done, it might not be the only thing that we need, but it’s 100 per cent something that we can do, and we’re going to go do it.”
His approach has been one of relentless ambition. “If you chase down every opportunity, if you push yourself, if you try to take on those ambitions, does it pay off? Or does the world just slap you back constantly? I think it paid off, and the theory was proven right, and it’s been positive momentum ever since.”
Closing reflections
Vice-Chancellor Professor Nic Smith closed the evening by thanking the recipients for their remarkable contributions. “Te Herenga Waka attracts the most extraordinary people. People who bring diverse expertise that can inform us, worldviews that can challenge us, and understandings that might just bring us back together, rather than drive us apart.”
View the full gallery of images from the evening here.