Karaitiana Tamatea was a quiet force at the 糖心Vlog: a teacher, mentor and leader whose enduring legacy lies in the way he empowered others to learn, grow and move forward together.
Long-standing staff member Karaitiana (Waikato, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata) passed away this month after nearly three decades of service at the University.
Widely known across the University for his roles as Kaiurungi, Associate Dean M膩ori and Programme Advisor for M膩ori Medium Teaching within Te W膩nanga Toi Tangata 鈥� Division of Education, Karaitiana played a pivotal role in advancing M膩ori education and leadership.
Karaitiana Tamatea was a trusted senior advisor to the University
Colleagues and friends have been sharing their memories of him, remembering an educator deeply committed to supporting students to become competent and confident in their use of te reo M膩ori, tikanga and m膩tauranga M膩ori.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley acknowledged Karaitiana鈥檚 career in education, noting he was a secondary school teacher before joining the University in 1997. He completed a Master of Arts in M膩ori Medium Education in 2001 and remained actively involved until retiring recently to focus on his health and wh膩nau.
Alongside his roles in Education, he was a trusted senior advisor to the University on kawa and tikanga, particularly following the passing of kaum膩tua Koro Taki Turner in 2024, guiding key events and ceremonies.
鈥淭o many of us, Karaitiana was a constant, in both the wisdom he shared and his kind, calm approach,鈥� he said.
鈥淗is welcoming nature ensured staff, students and countless visitors felt at ease in his presence.鈥�
Close friend and colleague Shirley Tuteao (Ng膩ti Mahuta) says Karaitiana will be remembered in the Division for his exceptional organisation, discipline and steady leadership.
鈥淓 h艒honu ana te tangi o t艒ku ng膩kau, e heke m膩haki ana ng膩 roimata i te toimaha o t艒na wehenga. (My heart mourns with fullness; gentle tears fall under the heaviness of his departure).
"It was his humility and humanity that touched us the most. He cared deeply about each member of staff, taking the time to check in on us not just about work, but about our wh膩nau and wellbeing. In the days since his passing, every staff member I have spoken with has shared a fond memory of his kindness, his quiet humour, or the way he made them feel genuinely valued.鈥�
Karaitiana had enormous mana both at the University and in the wider community
Shirley acknowledged Karaitiana鈥檚 cherished connection with Te Kohinga M膩rama Marae, a University facility of special significance to the Te W膩nanga Toi Tangata Division of Education which was managed for many years by the late Ray Gage. Shirley spoke of Karaitiana鈥檚 connection to Ray, Ray鈥檚 wife Pat and their wh膩nau, which she says was enriched by deep 鈥榯ikanga and te reo knowledge鈥�.
So special it was to Karaitiana, Te Kohinga M膩rama Marae was included in his final procession at the University.
鈥淎t graduation we would often speak about academic dress; he would quietly say to me 鈥楽hirley, this coat is my regalia,鈥� and would refer to the Ng膩ti Korok墨 Kahukura tohu (symbol) symbolising his enduring allegiance to his hap奴 and Maungatautari, as with I. Kua moe 膩io te rangatira i te take o t艒na maunga tapu. (Our chief rests peacefully at the base of his sacred mountain).鈥�
She said he stood firmly on the foundation of his people and his whakapapa ki te Tair膩whiti (East Coast) and Korok墨 Kahukura, (Waikato subtribe) and his life was guided by the deep aroha he held for his wife Te Raire, their children and mokopuna.
鈥淟et our aroha and deepest condolences surround his hoa p奴mau (beloved wife) and wh膩nau as they navigate the days ahead.鈥�
Pro Vice-Chancellor Education Professor Claire McLachlan said Karaitiana鈥檚 approach strengthened connection and capability across the learning community.
鈥淗e wanted everybody to be on the waka and moving forward. He used a genuinely inclusive and empowering approach to help students gain the knowledge and skills they needed, and the confidence to use them,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 will miss his friendship. Despite the enormous mana he held within communities, he was gentle in the way he approached people, always leading with kindness and care.鈥�
Karaitiana鈥檚 greatest passion was teaching the younger generations
She said Karaitiana鈥檚 greatest passion was teaching the younger generations.
鈥淲e will greatly feel the loss of his leadership in the total immersion programmes. We have some young and incredibly talented people coming through the system, and Karaitiana was their mentor. His ability to mentor people from all walks of life will be deeply missed.鈥�
She also acknowledged that his contribution extended well beyond teaching.
鈥淗e was involved in research alongside Professor Mere Berryman and Dr Lesley Rameka. We will miss him as a M膩ori education researcher as well.鈥�
Karaitiana worked with Mere on a substantial Marsden Fund research project that sought to recapture M膩ori voices and understandings of conception, birth and birthing rituals from a pre-colonisation perspective.
Mere said the depth of Karaitiana鈥檚 knowledge of te ao M膩ori, m膩tauranga M膩ori, and te reo M膩ori was always striking.
鈥淔rom the time I first met him when he was Head of M膩ori at Tauranga Boys鈥� College, it was his knowledge and his humility that left the strongest impression on me. Often, when people are exceptionally knowledgeable, their humility is not always as evident. With Karaitiana, the two went hand in hand.鈥�
For Head of the School of Education Professor Sally Peters, it will be Karaitiana鈥檚 guidance and compassion for his students and colleagues that will be noticeably missed.
鈥淗e was a trusted and caring friend who could talk to anyone across the Division. As Head of School, not many people stop by just to ask, 鈥楢re you okay?鈥� but he did. That was just who he was, checking in with colleagues.鈥� He focused also on the wellbeing of students and how they were navigating challenges in their own lives.
Sally said Karaitiana鈥檚 guidance in tikanga M膩ori and role as a bridge between the University and the wider community will also be greatly missed.
Emeritus Professor Noeline Alcorn was Dean of Education when she appointed Karaitiana in 1997.
Karaitiana had spent nearly 30 years at the 糖心Vlog
鈥淥ver the almost 30 years Karaitiana was a University staff member, he grew in stature and influence within the School of Education, the University and the wider community from neophyte to kaum膩tua,鈥� Noeline said.
鈥淔rom a young secondary teacher still building confidence in te reo to a kaum膩tua whose focus was on helping find solutions to issues based on mutual respect and understanding, as a leader he remained a learner as well as a teacher and deservedly won the esteem and affection of a wide range of colleagues.鈥�
Senior Lecturer in the Division of Education Dr Paul Flanagan knew Karaitiana over a few decades.
鈥淚 first met 鈥楳ack鈥� in 1996 when we were both on the school staff at Ng膩ruaw膩hia High School 鈥� I was Guidance Counsellor.鈥�
They then reconnected in 2007 when Paul joined the University teaching staff, by which time Karaitiana had already spent a decade at Waikato.
鈥淚n my time here at the University, the counsellor education team has worked closely with Karaitiana as we support culturally appropriate and safe learning contexts for tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti.
鈥淲e as a teaching team in counsellor education have worked closely with him to consider the experiences for students in p艒whiri, marae noho and consultations about particular issues as they arose. His insightful wisdom and calm but clear guidance is sorely missed.鈥�
Pou T奴hono Manager 鈥� Strategy and Implementation for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor M膩ori Office Whet奴 Taukamo was a student when he first met Karaitiana in 2004 and in recent years has worked alongside him. He acknowledged his unwavering advocacy for te reo M膩ori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi which was obvious when working with Karaitiana on important openings or with important visitors.
鈥淗e was meticulous in ensuring events were conducted in accordance with tikanga. This involved close collaboration with him and other kaum膩tua across the University to ensure all cultural elements were in place. For the past seven years since my return as a staff member, we worked as colleagues supporting M膩ori matters across the University.鈥�
Deputy Vice-Chancellor M膩ori Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai acknowledges the invaluable contribution Karaitiana made to the University as a whole.
鈥淲hile a dearly loved colleague in Te W膩nanga Toi Tangata, Karaitiana was a significant contributor to the wider University particularly in ensuring our tikanga was upheld across the diverse kaupapa we had.
鈥淜araitiana was a calm and steadying influence for many of us, myself included. He provided guidance on a number of kaupapa but importantly he acknowledged our role as a teaching institution and created space for our rangatahi, our students, to step forward and undertake responsibilities with his full support and under his guidance.
鈥淗e will be sorely missed.鈥�
E te Kaiurungi o Te W膩nanga Toi Tangata, m膩 wai e whakatika i t艒 waka kua t墨koki? M膩 wai e whakaara i 艒 tauira ka taka ki te h膿? Kua tere t艒 waka ki te k膩punipunitanga o ng膩 wairua, n艒 reira haere ake koe i ng膩 ngaru nui o roimata, i ng膩 tai nui o aroha. Ko t艒 Whare W膩nanga t膿nei e poroporoaki nei ki a koe.
Haere e te rangatira, whakangaro atu r膩.
