Honouring Hiwi Tauroa
The long association of Hiwi Tauroa with Massey
University was marked at his farewell as a member of the University Council.
Mr Tauroa has retired from the Council after 10 years of service as a
government appointee. Colleagues, friends and former colleagues, including
former Vice-Chancellor Sir Neil Waters and his wife, Joyce, attended the
ceremony to honour Mr Tauroa, held at the Albany campus on Friday 2 March.
In his farewell speech, Mr Tauroa returned to
his younger days as a Massey University student. He graduated with
a BAgrSc in 1951, one of only two Maori to achieve the qualification.
ÏNow,Ó he said, Ïwe have a great many Maori students studying at our
campuses.Ó
However Mr Tauroa went on to urge the University
to do more for Maori students, who are often bi-lingual. He suggested
more use of the Maori language and the futher building up of relationships
with Maori groups in the community. He also spoke of the role of the
Council Ïas a guardianÓ and of the Ïgreat honourÓ of his return to
the University as a Council member. ÏThank you for your kindness and
your love,Ó he said.
Chancellor Morva CroxsonÌs friendship with Hiwi
Tauroa goes back 12 years. She spoke of his contribution to the Council
and his role as Ïcentral to his own peopleÓ. She also noted his ability
as a council member Ïto create a situation in which conflict can be
honestly addressedÓ.
Others who took part in the ceremony were former
Chancellor Hugh Williams and his wife, Joy, and Albany Te Kaiwarau
Ra Kohere and Albany Principal Professor Ian Watson and his wife,
Patsy. Hiwi Tauroa, C.M.G., is a former Race Relations Conciliator.
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