2020 Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awardees

In 2020, nine teachers have received sustained excellence awards for their contribution to tertiary teaching and learning under the General and Kaupapa Māori categories.

Dr Rhys Jones

Prime Minister’s Supreme Award Winner 2020

Rhys is an outstanding champion of teaching and learning who weaves together values from te Ao Māori, Kaupapa Māori frameworks, Indigenous Peoples' human rights and medicine.

"We need to go beyond the concept of transformative learning within a Kaupapa Māori framework, and seek to transform educational curricula, educational institutions and society in which they are embedded."

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Dr Anne-Marie Jackson

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching – Kaupapa Māori category

Anne-Marie sets a standard of excellence for all her students and provides an “āhuru mōwai” (safe harbour) where they can learn, feel safe to make mistakes, be nurtured and flourish.

“Like my ancestors who intentionally navigated here across Te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa, the vast Pacific Ocean, I expect you to be great, and to navigate your own pathway and destiny.”

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Dr Awanui Te Huia

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching – Kaupapa Māori category

Awanui invites students to “regain control over areas of their academic, social and cultural lives to create a narrative that is aligned with their goals.” 

"Our students come to us with a very diverse range of experiences. My role is creating space for all of those experiences to be valued and recognised."

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Kay-Lee Jones

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching – Kaupapa Māori category

Kay-Lee personifies manaakitanga as she uplifts and empowers her ‘kaiako ō āpōpō’, and deeply embodies whanaungatanga.

“You can empower teachers holistically to be strong in a Māori and a Pākehā world by really getting to know them.” 

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Yo Heta-Lensen

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching – Kaupapa Māori category

Yo creates learning environments to enable leadership potential to flourish through relational teaching and the principle of ako.

"My teaching is about handing a korowai of inclusivity that celebrates diversity and that honours Māori as the indigenous people of this whenua to the next generation of early childhood education (ECE) kaiako."

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Anuj Bhargava

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Anuj's teaching is built on learner-centred and holistic philosophies to tailor learning in the medical and health sciences. He creates inclusive environments by prioritising students’ understanding and backgrounds.

"Learning is deeply personal. Students acquire knowledge best when teaching is tailored to their specific requirements."

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Josie Crawley

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Josie is a dedicated, intuitive, and authentic educator, but above all, she is a storyteller and an avid listener.

"Effective learning outcomes achieved through teaching reflective storytelling techniques provide a fertile base for deeper critical thinking."

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Dr Kirstine Moffat

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Kirstine is a creative teacher and a risk taker, encouraging both attributes in her students.

“The foundations of what I consider to be excellence in teaching lie in this childhood memory: discovery, the joy of connection, and magic.”

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Dr Maxine Lewis

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Maxine's approach to teaching and learning is exemplified by words like ‘reimagining’ and ‘opening up’. She is passionate about the classics and ancient history; making these disciplines accessible, inclusive and relevant.

“I feel privileged to teach subjects that I am passionate about to enthusiastic students from whom I learn so much. I am deeply committed to bringing knowledge of the ancient Greek and Roman world to students in Aotearoa New Zealand, while celebrating how their unique knowledge and approach sheds new light on this ancient material.”

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