Over a hundred of his colleagues – including past and present kaimahi –  friends and family members, gathered at Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae to celebrate a career spanning 36 years at Unitec, as well as more recently MIT and Te Pūkenga.

Long-time mentor, pioneering Māori broadcaster and educator, Sir Haare Williams (Ngāi Tūhoe and Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki), led the tributes describing Emeritus Professor Williams as “a strong advocate of Treaty principles” and a “significant figure in the development of Unitec’s founding document, Te Noho Kotahitanga”.

As Unitec’s inaugural Pae Arahi (in 1998), former dean of Māori education and Māori advisor to the Chief Executive, Sir Haare witnessed many of Professor Williams’ achievements and was full of praise for his work.

“The Treaty of Waitangi is about cooperation and collaboration. It unifies New Zealand and is the envy of the world. Marcus, you’ve always been a strong advocate for all things Māori,” said Sir Haare.

Pacific Success Interim Manager, Sooalo Laupu’e Daisy Bentley-Gray, spoke proudly of the immense contribution Prof Williams had made to the Pacific academic community. 

“Thank you for your dedication to Pacific success in the research space which I witnessed with your collaboration with the past directors of the Pacific Centre, Linda Aumua and Seulupe Falaniko Tominiko,” she said.

“Your support, encouragement and advocacy for Pacific kaimahi and students resulted in an increase in Pacific engagement in research. You made it possible for us to engage on a regional and national level, and have a voice. 

“You leave a legacy in our community as an advocate, an enabler, a mentor, and a leader – e le galo oe (you will not be forgotten).” 

This was followed by a presentation of traditional gifts by Unitec Pacific kaimahi while they sung the heartfelt Fijian song ‘Isa Lei’.

Te Pūkenga Chief Executive, Gus Gilmore, who was unable to attend the farewell ceremony, acknowledged the lasting impact of Prof Williams’ work.

“Under your watch, Unitec’s capability now stretches confidently into kaupapa Māori, the environment and other applied fields, giving kaimahi and ākonga new ways to make a difference,” say Mr Gilmore.

“You showed the sector what collaboration can look like. Thank you for your steady commitment to the sector, for mentoring the next generation of researchers and for showing that high standards and manaakitanga can go hand-in-hand. We are better for your efforts and your influence will continue long after today.”

DCE Academic, MIT-Unitec, Professor Martin Carroll added: “Led by the values of Te Noho Kotahitanga, and a fair amount of bravery, Marcus led Unitec to one hundred per cent of our programmes being research compliant by 2020. 

“Not only that, a number of Research Centres arose, many external grants were won, and Unitec found itself the leading research institution in the vocational education and training sector.”

Pae Arahi, Hare Paniora then led the MAIA and Marae team in singing an emotional tribute song he had penned for Prof Williams. A specially made paraikete (blanket) was later presented by Taharangi, Vivienne Merito, as a token of their respect for him and his contributions. 

Associate Professor, Ngā Wai a Te Tūī, Byron Rangiwai explained the paraikete’s significance: “It is an ode to the ambitious leaders, the brave, the courageous, the visionaries who look beyond the horizon, and endeavour to find new opportunities to grow themselves and their people.

“It’s also an encouragement to take time for ourselves, which also requires courage; the courage to say no, as to sustain others, first we must sustain ourselves.”

The formalities concluded with Executive Director, MIT-Unitec, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga presenting Williams with his new regalia to confirm his new title as Emeritus Professor.  

At the end of the ceremony, the celebrations moved across to Toi o Wairaka in Building 108 where Peseta spoke about the qualities that made Williams such a highly valued colleague, citing his ability to work with and relate to people from all backgrounds, and do all the crucial work that often went unseen.

“What I admire about you is you don’t just talk Te Noho Kotahitanga, you practice it,” Peseta explained. “You have a big heart, a great character, and we commend you.”

Prof Williams was quick to deflect the attention from his achievements in his farewell speech saying he was “overwhelmed for this humble boy from Swanson Primary School and Kaipara College”. Instead, he chose to reflect on his time at Unitec through a series of memorable and sometimes amusing vignettes from the past thirty-six years.

A SERVANT LEADER DEDICATED TO CHAMPIONING EXCELLENCE

As an artist, curator, environmentalist and academic, Emeritus Professor Williams has a cross-disciplinary art practice working in a wide range of media with a strong emphasis in photography. 

He joined Unitec in 1988 as a part time photography tutor and technician in the then School of Design. In only four years he was promoted to fulltime Dean of Research and Enterprise within the school. 

He graduated with a BA in Photography, from the University of Auckland (1993-1995) and a Masters in Fine Arts from RMIT University in Melbourne (1999-2001). 

In 2009, Prof Williams was awarded the Paramount Award at the prestigious Wallace Arts Awards for a work in collaboration with his wife Susan Jowsey. Their work Correction was the first photographic piece to win the award. Two years later, they won the Phodar Biennial Photography Prize for their series The Unfound.

As Unitec’s Dean of Research and Enterprise for the last eleven years, Williams’ leadership was notable for steering research as a partnered activity focused on real world problems.

His skills of leading through service and collaborating with staff, industry and community groups, came to the fore as he led large teams towards attaining excellence. 

“He fearless and tirelessly advocated for others too, often putting the spotlight on staff whose work had real world outcomes through the Research with Impact and Deans Awards,” said Prof Martin Carroll. “He championed open access publishing with E-Press to ensure those results were shared freely.”

Among his accomplishments was representing the VET (Vocation, Education and Training) sector on a Governmental review of the PBRF (Performance-Based Research Fund) system and co-leading the formation of Climate Action Tai Tokerau.

He has also provided a lifetime of meritorious service to his discipline of Creative Arts.

While at Unitec, he learnt and applied three key findings: that creative education required unique and innovative responses to remain agile; that creativity isn’t to be partitioned; and the teacher is primarily here to help the individual with their creativity.

Go well Emeritus Professor Marcus Williams.

E te rangatira, kua eke koe ki ngā taumata o te mātauranga.
Nāu te whare wānanga i whakakaha, i whakakōkiri.
E kore mātou e wareware i āu mahi nui, tō kaha, tō manawanui.
Haere rā, haere rā, haere rā.

Esteemed leader, you have reached the heights of knowledge.

You have strengthened and advanced this institution.

We will not forget your great contributions, your strength, your dedication.

Farewell, farewell, farewell.