Vice-Chancellor Professor Pierre Venter.
Professor Venter was welcomed on to each of Massey’s three campuses with pōwhiri led by local mana whenua, followed by events to engage with staff.
Talking to staff, Professor Venter expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and outlined his aspirations for Massey.
“Massey has a proud history of service to Aotearoa New Zealand. We were founded to meet real needs, to educate, to research, to connect knowledge with practice and that legacy matters. But, honouring our past does not mean repeating it unchanged,” Professor Venter says.
“The challenge before all of us is to define what a next-generation university in New Zealand looks like - one that learns from its history, is honest about today’s performance, and is ambitious about who and what it wants to be going forward.”
Staff meet new Vice-Chancellor
Professor Venter started the week at his home campus in Palmerston North.
The first welcome, supported by Rangitāne and Te Pūtahi-a-Toi, School of Māori Knowledge, acknowledged his arrival, and reaffirmed the university’s partnership with the iwi. Senior leaders from the university, alongside members of the Massey University Council and Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i Te Tiriti o Waitangi I Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, attended the pōwhiri. Professor Venter was accompanied by his wife, daughter, former colleagues from Fonterra, and the Vice-Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology and Universities New Zealand Chair Professor Damon Salesa.
The pōwhiri was followed by an informal meet-and-greet at The Refectory, providing staff with the opportunity to chat with Professor Venter.
On his second day, Professor Venter was welcomed into Te Rau Karamu marae on the Pukeahu campus in Wellington. Kurt Komene Smith, Te Āti Awa, Taranaki Whānui, led the pōwhiri on behalf of mana whenua, while Associate Professor Hone Morris, Ngāi Te Rangitotohu, Ngāti Mārau, Ngāti Maru, Ngāi Te Ao Kāpiti, spoke on behalf of the manuhiri and our new Vice-Chancellor. Afterwards, Professor Venter joined staff for refreshments.
Professor Venter was received on the Ōtehā Auckland campus on Wednesday with a pōwhiri led by Ngāti Whātua. He was accompanied by his son. The event was followed by kai and coffee with staff.
At the staff events, Chancellor Alistair Davis ONZM addressed attendees, speaking to the significance of the appointment and the vision for Massey.
“Pierre is taking over at a time when we need to keep reshaping the university for the changing world. Council recognised in Professor Venter a willingness to understand change and act with strategic intent, and at the same time take people with him. That balance of strategy and culture is critical.”
Professor Venter succeeds Professor Jan Thomas as Massey University Vice-Chancellor. She served in the role from January 2017 until January 2026.
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