---

Nō mātou kē te hōnore nui, Ko Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka me te Whare Takiura o Manukau i te āheinga kia manaaki i te 21 o ngā Hui ā tau o Te Toi Tauira mō te Matariki.

Ko tō mātou kaupapa o te hui nei, “Whiria te Tangata, Whiria te Mātauranga” e kōrero ana tēnei kupu whakarite mō te hiranga o te hononga i waenga i te tangata me te mātauranga. Ka puta te kaha, te māramatanga me te koke whakamua i te raranga i ngā hononga me te ako.

Ko te manako nui, mā tēnei kupu whakarite ka herea te kotahitanga o te kōrero nei e tātou kia taea e te kaupapa ngā wāwata te whakatutuki o ā tatou Tauira Māori, ngā kaimahi, me ngā Kaiako i roto i te Mātauranga ahumahi me te rārangi matua whānui.

Unitec and MIT are pleased to have this opportunity to host the 21st hui ā tau for Te Toi Tauira mō te Matariki.

Our theme is “Weave the people, Weave the knowledge.” This speaks about the importance of the interconnection between people and knowledge. Strength, understanding, and progress come when we weave relationships together with learning.

We hope that through this metaphor we can again bind ourselves together in strength and unity to achieve the collective aspirations of our tauira Māori. kaimahi, and educators within Vocational Education and across the Tertiary Sector.

Programme

Day 1 - Wednesday 24 September

8:30am	Registrations open, bag drop-off, and Kapu Tī. Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, Unitec
9:30am	Pōwhiri - Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, Unitec NorthTec - tuku mauri, whakahokia
10:15am	Opening address and welcome Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga - Executive Director MIT|Unitec Whiria te Mātauranga - Wiremu Manaia - Director Mātauranga Māori, MIT Te Waka Hourua -Vivienne Merito - Taharangi, Unitec
10:30am	Keynote address Tā Haare Williams
11am	Paramanawa/Morning Tea - Registration
11:30am	Whiria te tangata
12:30pm	Te Hītori o Te Toi Tauira mō te Matariki Colleen Leuanae - Heamana Toi Tauira mō te Matariki Lee Cooper - Heamana Toi Tauira mō te Matariki
1pm	Kai o te rā/Lunch
1:30pm	Whiria te tangata Te Wai Unuroa a Wairaka, Rangimārie pā harakeke
2:30pm	Parallel session 1
3pm	Parallel session 2
3:30pm	Paramanawa/Afternoon Tea
4pm	Hui-ā-Tau (AGM) - Te Tira Whakahaere
4:45pm	Wrap-up, Karakia Whakakapi
5pm	Mix & Mingle - finger food, non-alcoholic punch

---

Day 2 - Thursday 25 September

8:15am	Delegates start arriving, Kapu Tī available
8:45am	Karakia, Ngā Nekenekehanga
9am	Reflections on Day 1 - MCs
9:10am	Mata Moana team - Ako Aotearoa Dr Joe Te Rito (Kaihautū Mātauranga Māori) Dr Mei Winitana (Kaiwhakahaere Mātauranga Māori) Pale Sauni (Pacific Priorities and Cultural Leader) Saylene Ulberg-Tanielu (Pacific Cultural Advisor)
10:10am	Te Mana Ākonga | National Māori Tertiary Students’ Association Aotearoa Māori Student Association Panel
11am	Paramanawa/Morning Tea
11:30am	Parallel session 1
12pm	Workshop session – Building resilience as we navigate 2026 and beyond
1pm	Waikato Tainui Hiitori  Matua Vince Hapi, Senior Cultural Advisor, MIT
1:30pm	Kai o te rā/Lunch – pick up picnic packs Buses leave for Haerenga
4pm	Return to Unitec campus
5pm	Downtime - preparation for the evening dinner
6pm	Bus/drive to conference dinner venue - Novotel Tainui
7pm	Delegates arrive for the conference dinner Welcome drinks served
7:15pm	Welcome/Karakia
7:30pm	Buffet open for delegates
8pm	Te Toi Tauira mō te Matariki Awards
9pm	Entertainment
9:30pm	Last dance
9:45pm	Bus returns to Unitec

---

Day 3 - Friday 26 September

9:15am	Delegates arrive
9:30am	Karakia, Ngā Nekenekehanga
9:45am	2026 Tono
10:15am	Ngā kōrero whakakapi | closing remarks – MCs, Poroporoaki – open floor
10:45am	Karakia Whakamutunga
11am	Kapu Tī  Provide merchandise to all delegates
11:30am	Depart for home

---

Parking

Parking is available directly beside Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, open parking location in Google maps.

Accomodation

Closest accommodation to Unitec:
Mt Albert Lodge (10 mins walk)
Roomie Apartments (10 mins drive,  35 mins walk)
Soho Hotel (10 mins drive,  35 mins walk)

There are lots of Air BnB options nearby, or if you are staying in the CBD there is easy access via public transport (Mt Albert train station 10 mins walk).

Sponsors

Thank you to our Principal Sponsor - Ako Aotearoa.

Thanks for support from our sponsors 

---

Register now

Ngā mihi nui ki a koe – thank you for your interest. Complete the form below to secure your place!

The conference fee is $350 (inc. GST) per kaimahi and $175 (inc. GST) per tauira. Register your interest here, and our team will follow up with payment instructions.

---

Event Photography & video notice: Photos and videos will be taken during the event for promotional use. By attending, you consent to being recorded. If you prefer not to be included, please inform an event team member on the day.