The Minister of Maori Development Minister
has gone back to his professional roots.
Te Ururoa Flavell has joined the teaching staff
at Waikato University.
And as Hania Douglas reports, his peers are welcoming the calibre
and credentials of their new colleague.
The politician is going back to his roots in education.
Half-time here, two and a half days to start with.
Waikato University welcomed their new professorial fellow
in Te Ururoa Flavell today.
His role is Professorial Teaching Follow.
He's essentially a tutor.
He will be interfacing with our students
in his relevant areas of expertise which of course are politics
and Maori business.
It's nothing new for us.
One of the purposes behind this powhiri
is to say to him 'welcome back'.
But the Te Arawa descendant is no stranger to the place,
but his colleagues couldn't be happier
to see the student become the teacher.
I was a student here when Timoti Karetu,
Hirini Melbourne, Te Wharehuia and Te Rita were all here.
They've all left now, and I do miss them,
however, I'll manage as there is still a strong Maori presence here.
He did his thesis for his postgraduate degree here.
I marked his thesis when I was a lecturer
at Victoria University.
It was a good thesis.
It's clear to me that he his is adept
at Maori culture.
He has skills that can help non-Maori departments here on campus
with engaging with Maori culture.
It's a part-time position with Waikato University,
but don't think he's slowing down - he's still as busy as ever.
My role is as a liaison officer and so I help build relationships
between people of all backgrounds.
So that's my skillset in a nutshell,
and I hope that I can be effective in a consultancy role
when it comes to governance issues within companies, businesses
and groups moving forward into the future.
Proving there's life after politics.
Hania Douglas, Te Karere.
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