Rawinia Higgins

Professor Rawinia Higgins (Ngāi Tūhoe) is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) at Victoria University. She is a widely acknowledged expert on the revitalisation of te reo Māori, has strong relationships with Māori communities and agencies and provides strategic advice that has influenced Māori policy development.

Rawinia has held many roles on boards, advisory groups and working parties during her career. She is currently a board member of Te Māngai Pāho, Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga Centre of Research Excellence, a member of the Waitangi Tribunal and a Commissioner for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. She chaired the Māori Language Advisory Group for the Minister for Māori Development, which influenced and shaped the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Act 2016.

In addition, Rawinia is Deputy Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission’s Māori Knowledge and Development PBRF (Performance-Based Research Fund) panel.