He poutokomanawa o Te Tumu Herenga Waka ka turakina!
Kōauau ana te whakaaro!
Pūkāea ana pohū!
Pūtātara ana pakū!
Ka oho ake ki te ao he manawa tūreikura.
Ka riro atu koe e Hirini ki te rua kōhā o Matariki
Tomokia, ka noho ki tōu momo
Ki te oninga kumu o ruanuku mā, ki te oinga kōtore o ruahine mā.
Ko tō mawana, ko tōku manawa
Tēnei ka piri, ka tuki, ka hotu
Ka oho ake ki te ao he manawa tūreikura.
E te whānau o Te Herenga Waka, kua hinga tō tātau koroua a Tā Hirini Moko Mead. Nāna tō tātau whare, tō tātau marae i whakatū, hai whakaruruhau mō te tini me te mano o ngā ākonga, o ngā kaimahi, me ngā manuhiri nō ngā hau e whā.
It is with great sadness that Te Herenga Waka acknowledges the passing of Professor Tā Hirini Moko Mead, the first Professor of Māori Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. His vision and leadership saw our marae established, providing a Māori space for countless students, staff, and visitors over the years. More importantly, he has provided a bedrock of scholarship on mātauranga Māori that continues to be at the cornerstone of Māori Studies.
Professor Rawinia Higgins, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori and Kaitiakitanga, says, “Sir Hirini's legacy lives on in the institutions he helped build, which includes our Universityʻs marae, the cultural treasures he helped protect and restore, the scholarship he created, and the countless people whose lives were enriched by his wisdom, mentorship, and leadership. We had the great fortune that he could join us for the opening of Ngā Mokopuna and see the completion of a dream that he and others had started four decades beforehand.”
Professor Sir Hirini's contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand was profound and enduring. Across a lifetime of service, he transformed the intellectual, cultural, and educational landscape of the nation, helping to establish Māori knowledge, language, values, and perspectives at the centre of academic and public life.
A distinguished scholar of te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, history, and the arts, Sir Hirini dedicated his life to the advancement of mātauranga Māori and to the revitalisation of Māori language and culture. His work bridged worlds, bringing together scholarship and community, tradition and innovation, and indigenous knowledge and international academic discourse.
Through his writing, teaching, leadership, and advocacy, Sir Hirini helped shape generations of students, researchers, public servants, educators, and community leaders. His influential publications, including Tikanga Māori: Living by Māori Values, have become foundational texts for understanding Māori worldviews and continue to guide readers in Aotearoa and internationally.
Sir Hirini's influence extended far beyond the academy. He was a visionary leader whose work shaped the cultural, political, educational, and social development of Aotearoa New Zealand over more than six decades.
Among his many contributions was his pivotal role in the landmark Te Māori exhibition of the 1980s, which transformed international understanding of Māori art and culture. The exhibition, which toured major museums in the United States before returning to New Zealand, represented a watershed moment in the recognition of Māori cultural authority and perspectives in the presentation of taonga. Sir Hirini's leadership and advocacy helped ensure that Māori voices and tikanga were central to the exhibition's development and reception.
A respected authority on Māori issues, Sir Hirini served as a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, contributing to the advancement of justice and the recognition of Treaty rights and historical grievances. He was also a key leader for his people, Ngāti Awa, serving as lead negotiator of their Treaty of Waitangi settlement and later chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa during a period of significant transformation.
Sir Hirini was a passionate advocate for Māori educational advancement. He established Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne, helping realise a vision for a tertiary institution grounded in mātauranga Māori and dedicated to serving Māori communities. Under his guidance, the wānanga creates opportunities for thousands of learners and contributes significantly to the revitalisation and transmission of Indigenous knowledge.
Throughout his life, Sir Hirini received numerous honours in recognition of his extraordinary service. He was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 for services to Māori and education and in 2009, accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. His many accolades reflected the esteem in which he was held across academic, cultural, governmental, and community spheres. Yet despite these honours, he remained deeply committed to the service of whānau, hapū, iwi, and future generations.
E te pou o tō tātou whare, haere atu rā.
- Read Tā Hirini Moko Mead's Tapuaka page
- Listen to his address at Te Whakatuwheratanga for Ngā Mokopuna
- Read his address at Te Whakatuwheratanga for Ngā Mokopuna