Karaitiana Tamatea was a quiet force at the University of Waikato: 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 Māori and Programme Advisor for Māori Medium Teaching within Te Wānanga Toi Tangata – Division of Education, Karaitiana played a pivotal role in advancing Māori 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 Māori, tikanga and mātauranga Māori.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley acknowledged Karaitiana’s career in education, noting he was a secondary school teacher before joining the University in 1997. He completed a Master of Arts in Māori Medium Education in 2001 and remained actively involved until retiring recently to focus on his health and whānau.
Alongside his roles in Education, he was a trusted senior advisor to the University on kawa and tikanga, particularly following the passing of kaumātua Koro Taki Turner in 2024, guiding key events and ceremonies.
“To many of us, Karaitiana was a constant, in both the wisdom he shared and his kind, calm approach,” he said.
“His welcoming nature ensured staff, students and countless visitors felt at ease in his presence.”
Close friend and colleague Shirley Tuteao (Ngāti Mahuta) says Karaitiana will be remembered in the Division for his exceptional organisation, discipline and steady leadership.
“E hōhonu ana te tangi o tōku ngākau, e heke māhaki ana ngā roimata i te toimaha o tōna 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 whānau 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.”
Karaitiana had enormous mana both at the University and in the wider community
Shirley acknowledged Karaitiana’s cherished connection with Te Kohinga Mārama Marae, a University facility of special significance to the Te Wānanga Toi Tangata Division of Education which was managed for many years by the late Ray Gage. Shirley spoke of Karaitiana’s connection to Ray, Ray’s wife Pat and their whānau, which she says was enriched by deep ‘tikanga and te reo knowledge’.
So special it was to Karaitiana, Te Kohinga Mārama Marae was included in his final procession at the University.
“At graduation we would often speak about academic dress; he would quietly say to me ‘Shirley, this coat is my regalia,’ and would refer to the Ngāti Korokī Kahukura tohu (symbol) symbolising his enduring allegiance to his hapū and Maungatautari, as with I. Kua moe āio te rangatira i te take o tōna maunga tapu. (Our chief rests peacefully at the base of his sacred mountain).”
She said he stood firmly on the foundation of his people and his whakapapa ki te Tairāwhiti (East Coast) and Korokī Kahukura, (Waikato subtribe) and his life was guided by the deep aroha he held for his wife Te Raire, their children and mokopuna.
“Let our aroha and deepest condolences surround his hoa pūmau (beloved wife) and whānau as they navigate the days ahead.”
Pro Vice-Chancellor Education Professor Claire McLachlan said Karaitiana’s approach strengthened connection and capability across the learning community.
“He 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,” she said.
“I 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.”
Karaitiana’s greatest passion was teaching the younger generations
She said Karaitiana’s greatest passion was teaching the younger generations.
“We 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.”
She also acknowledged that his contribution extended well beyond teaching.
“He was involved in research alongside Professor Mere Berryman and Dr Lesley Rameka. We will miss him as a Māori education researcher as well.”
Karaitiana worked with Mere on a substantial Marsden Fund research project that sought to recapture Māori voices and understandings of conception, birth and birthing rituals from a pre-colonisation perspective.
Mere said the depth of Karaitiana’s knowledge of te ao Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori was always striking.
“From the time I first met him when he was Head of Māori at Tauranga Boys’ 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.”
For Head of the School of Education Professor Sally Peters, it will be Karaitiana’s guidance and compassion for his students and colleagues that will be noticeably missed.
“He 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, ‘Are you okay?’ but he did. That was just who he was, checking in with colleagues.” He focused also on the wellbeing of students and how they were navigating challenges in their own lives.
Sally said Karaitiana’s guidance in tikanga Māori 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 University of Waikato
“Over 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 kaumātua,” Noeline said.
“From a young secondary teacher still building confidence in te reo to a kaumātua 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.”
Senior Lecturer in the Division of Education Dr Paul Flanagan knew Karaitiana over a few decades.
“I first met ‘Mack’ in 1996 when we were both on the school staff at Ngāruawāhia High School – I was Guidance Counsellor.”
They then reconnected in 2007 when Paul joined the University teaching staff, by which time Karaitiana had already spent a decade at Waikato.
“In 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.
“We as a teaching team in counsellor education have worked closely with him to consider the experiences for students in pōwhiri, marae noho and consultations about particular issues as they arose. His insightful wisdom and calm but clear guidance is sorely missed.”
Pou Tūhono Manager – Strategy and Implementation for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori Office Whetū 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 Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi which was obvious when working with Karaitiana on important openings or with important visitors.
“He was meticulous in ensuring events were conducted in accordance with tikanga. This involved close collaboration with him and other kaumātua 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 Māori matters across the University.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai acknowledges the invaluable contribution Karaitiana made to the University as a whole.
“While a dearly loved colleague in Te Wānanga Toi Tangata, Karaitiana was a significant contributor to the wider University particularly in ensuring our tikanga was upheld across the diverse kaupapa we had.
“Karaitiana 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.
“He will be sorely missed.”
E te Kaiurungi o Te Wānanga Toi Tangata, mā wai e whakatika i tō waka kua tīkoki? Mā wai e whakaara i ō tauira ka taka ki te hē? Kua tere tō waka ki te kāpunipunitanga o ngā wairua, nō reira haere ake koe i ngā ngaru nui o roimata, i ngā tai nui o aroha. Ko tō Whare Wānanga tēnei e poroporoaki nei ki a koe.
Haere e te rangatira, whakangaro atu rā.
