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Shock this morning at Waikato University when law lecturer Matiu Dickson collapsed and died during the opening ceremony for the university's new Law and Management building.
Mr Dickson, from the Ngai Tukairangi of Ngaiterangi, had been at the University since 1996 and was Associate Dean Maori in Te Piringa – Faculty of Law.
His special interests were legal education, youth advocacy and the criminal system, resource management and local government law, and Maori legal issues.
He also chaired Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa Charitable Trust, was a past member of Tauranga District Council, and served on a vaste range of Maori and community organisations including the council of Te Wananga o Awanuiarangi and Te Kohao Health.
Awanuiarangi chief executive Wiremu Doherty says Mr Dickson was highly regarded as an academic and a leader whose contributions will be sorely missed.
"He has been a very active member of my council at Awanuiarangi and there are a vast number of boards he has advised and sat on, and I don't think many people are aware he was a composer of many waiata capturing some of the elements around Taurangamoana, which was always dear to his heart," he says.
Matiu Dickson is survived by his wife Helen, six children and four mokopuna.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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