Dean Pasuya (right) presenting a Paiwan Peoples' wooden double-cup to the new CEO Te Ururoa Flavell (left)

Te Ururoa Flavell, former Māori Party co-leader has taken up the new role as Te Taiurungi （CEO） at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa （TWoA）; one of Aotearoa – New Zealand's largest tertiary institutions. Flavell, who had been a secondary school principal and head of another whare wānanga before entering politics said his passion had always been in education and kaupapa Māori.

"I am excited to be given the opportunity to advance the aspirations Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has for communities around te reo revitalization, Māori education, and access to quality, affordable tertiary education," Flavell said.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa welcomed its new CEO on 20^th August 2018 with a haka pōwhiri at its Te Awamutu headquarters. The College of Indigenous Studies （CIS） Dean Pasuya Poiconx （浦忠成 / Pu Chongcheng ） on behalf of the National Dong Hwa University （NDHU） travelled from Taiwan to Aotearoa, New Zealand to express our congratulations and deepest support. As an emblem of our friendship, harmony and honor, Dean Pasuya presented a traditional wooden cup and beaded noble-vest of Paiwan peoples to Te Ururoa.

The new CEO Te Ururoa Flavell is delivering his maiden speech with a Paiwan Peoples' beaded vest on

"Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has gradually matured in the construction of Māori knowledge and education system. It has become a successful model of Indigenous education nowadays." said Pasuya. The College of Indigenous Studies （CIS） has been building strong relationships through academic and cultural exchange activities between the two universities. The Center for International Indigenous Affairs （CIIA） Director, Dr. Jolan Hsieh （Bavaragh Dagalomai, 謝若蘭）, also mentioned that with the Taiwan - Aotearoa Connection project, CIS is expecting to learn from the experiences of Māori and how they have revitalizing Te Reo Māori （Māori language） as well as TWoA and their Māori-centered Indigenous education.