About 800 people have spent Thursday morning at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Windermere campus to dedicate a new building and strengthen the relationship with University of Waikato.
A ceremony was held to proclaim the name Maharaia upon the new teaching and learning centre that will help further bond the two tertiary institutions.
King Tuheitia led the karakia to open Maharaia.
It is called Maharaia in memory of Dr Maharaia Winiata, who was a born and bred Tauranga man in the first half of the 20th century. He was the first Maori to achieve a Ph.D and did so at Edinburgh University for a thesis entitled, The Changing Role of Leadership in Maori Society.
Maharia died suddenly in 1960 aged 47 and he is buried at the Huria marae in Judea.
The building was opened by the Maori King, King Tuheitia and is mainly for administrative purposes although it does house a large conference room and several break away rooms also.
The new building called Maharaia.
1 comment
I remember him.
Posted on 12-02-2010 12:32 | By alanbaker
Maharaia Winiata was my teacher in forms 2,3,4,and 5 at Wesley College during 1946-49. He taught me the meanings and pronunciation of Maori words and I will always remember his friendliness, his smile and his laugh. He could speak Maori, English, Greek, French and Latin,and had a great sense of humour. I am glad that he will be remembered in this magnificent building and we who knew him are fortunate to have been his pupils. My only regret is that I was not at the ceremony yesterday although I now live only 1/2 km away. Haere ra. Alan E. Baker.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.