Paora Ammunson

Paora Ammunson
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Māori
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University

BA (Māori Studies – Victoria University), Certificate Adult Teaching (CIT)
Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne o Wairarapa, Te Arawa, Tainui

Paora Ammunson brings significant leadership experience from executive management roles in government and tertiary education to iwi boards, public sector, food and fibre, sporting and commercial bodies.
He is a nationally recognised tertiary education leader – a focus he has held since his very first job in the former Wairarapa Community Polytechnic. Mr Ammunson was a Deputy Chief Executive of Te Pūkenga – a large-scale tertiary organisation – where he primarily led Te Tiriti o Waitangi work, while also managing several other key portfolios including learner success, digital, international, and academic matters.
Before that, Mr Ammunson was a Deputy Chief Executive and key architect of the Tertiary Education Commission’s learner success programme. He also brings insights from Te Tiriti, tertiary education and labour market public policy.
Mr Ammunson served in many national and regional leadership roles, such as the Rugby World Cup 2011 hosting and the APEC 1998 World Leaders Forum. He chaired the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union, was the establishment chair of the Wairarapa Primary Health Organisation and has been a councillor on the South Wairarapa District Council. He has also served as the chair for his iwi – Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa – Tamakinui ā Rua.

Responsibilities:
Office of the DVC Māori
Advisory (Māori and Iwi/Hapū Relationships)
Te Rau Puawai
Te Rau Tauawhi
Te Wheke a Toi

Paora is responsible for overseeing Massey’s focus on being Tiriti-led and supporting the university to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This includes ensuring Massey’s systems and programmes actively protect te reo and mātauranga Māori and framing Massey’s policies for relationships with local mana whenua, iwi and hapū. The group also plays a key role in our whole-of-Massey focus on Māori student success.