Business School, The University of Auckland

“Instead of compressing Māori entrepreneurial histories to fit Anglo-Western time frames and models of success, together we examine these economic activities and place them in more appropriate cultural and temporal contexts”.

A whakataukī says ‘whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata, whāia tō pae tata kia maua’. Pursue your dreams on distant horizons, bring them close and so they may become your reality. That whakataukī encapsulates Mānuka Hēnare’s teaching career. Mānuka has shown outstanding leadership and innovation in developing indigenous business, knowledge and health education programmes. Mānuka led the organisation of the Māori Business Leaders Awards.

As an organic Gramscian leader he has built the tūrangawaewae communities from which the students originate and helped accomplish the emancipatory dreams of his students and their whānau, hapū and iwi. A student, now successful consultant said: “It gave me confidence that the tools from Te Ao Māori are awesome in business”. Another business owner wrote “It has helped me set up the style of business I now feel comfortable with which is based on Māori values and protocols”

His Dean wrote, “Mānuka’s many activities, in total, constitute a very distinguished contribution to the Business School and the University and represent a strong and enduring commitment to Māori and Pacific education.”

In summary, Mānuka Hēnare is an excellent educator, counsellor, developer, researcher, kaumātua and leader.