Taharangi provides leadership for improving ākonga Māori outcomes, retention and success, while championing embedding Mātauranga Māori and Tīkanga Māori across the institute and developing our cultural capability to incorporate indigenous knowledge into our training and all aspects of Unitec life. 

“It’s a significant honour, I don’t take lightly,” Ms Merito says. 

The category is part of Te Whatu Kairangi Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards and recognises phenomenal Pacific educators and trainers in their contributions to develop and support the next generation of students and leaders.

“This is the pinnacle of my teaching,” he says. “I’ve been with Unitec for 16 years. We, Pasifika don’t boast. Some of the things we do are normal for us. But when people look at it, they realise the impact and how important it is.

“When I got the nomination I thought, ‘yes, I’ve done something good, but I am humbled.’”

Dr Joseph Aziz, who lectures at the School of Health and Social Practice, is recognised in this year’s Te Whatu Kairangi Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards for innovation in learning, teaching and curriculum development.

“This is a huge award of a very high calibre and strong standing,” says Dr Aziz. “It’s difficult to describe my feelings. It’s very exciting for my work to be recognised and acknowledged in this way.”

Human anatomy is a field of study as complex as the body itself. Because of this it can be tough for many students to master. 

Planning is well underway for the annual Tonga veterinary clinic, which will see a group of 24 Unitec ākonga, kaimahi, veterinarians and veterinary nurses based in a Tongan village for one week in December to support the work of South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW).

The voluntary trip, which has been running for the past 11 years, provides Unitec’s veterinary nursing students with a valuable learning opportunity as part of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.

Shaping student success

With Senior Lecturer Sanjeev Vellore Ranganathan

Sanjeev Vellore Ranganathan has been integral to Unitec's Business School for almost six years. As a Senior Lecturer in Management and Co-ordinator of the Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Accounting Internship-Based Learning (IBL) programme, his real-world experience, in-depth knowledge, and genuine care for his students shine through in everything he does.