Turangawaewae Marae and Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato hosted the 2010 Te Amorangi National Māori Academic Excellence Awards Dinner in April.

The lifetime achievement award, presented by Kiingi Tuheitia, was conferred on Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Chief Executive Bentham Ohia. Bentham’s father the late Dr Monte Ohia, whose doctoral degree was conferred posthumously, was also one of the acknowledged doctoral recipients.

The Awards Dinner celebrated 50 recipients which is the largest number of Māori PhD graduates to date.

The Te Amorangi National Māori Academic Excellence Awards is an annual event that acknowledges Māori PhD graduates across the country. Since its inception in 2002, 239 Māori PhD graduates have received the award.

The vision of past Emeritus Professor Tā Tāmati Reedy and the late Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, the ceremony acknowledges the achievements of Māori Doctoral graduates from throughout Aotearoa who have achieved the pinnacle of academic success.

The concept of Te Amorangi comes from an ancient Māori proverb “Ko te Amorangi ki mua, ko te Hāpai ō ki muri”. The name of the award embodies the responsibilities each recipient must embrace as an academic leader in our ever-changing world.

Te Puni Kōkiri sponsored the event along with Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust, Manu Ao Academy, Tertiary Education Commission, and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi.