A powerful new waka maumahara now stands at the entrance of EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus, symbolising both a half-century of educational achievement and the beginning of a new chapter for the region’s tertiary institution.
The taonga was unveiled and blessed at EIT’s Taradale campus as part of celebrations marking the institute’s 50th anniversary and its return to independence following its transition from Te Pūkenga earlier this year.
The unveiling brought together staff, alumni, civic leaders, iwi and hapū partners, former council members and community supporters to reflect on EIT’s journey since its establishment and look ahead to its future.
Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen said the milestone was about more than celebrating the past.
“Fifty years is a significant milestone for any institution, but especially for one so deeply connected to its people and its region,” she said. “Today is not only a celebration of that history. It is also a marker of an important moment for EIT, as we acknowledge our return to independence and the opportunity that brings for our future.”
While EIT officially reached its 50-year milestone in 2025, celebrations were delayed until this year to coincide with the institute’s return to independent status. Over the past five decades, EIT has grown from a regional community college into a major tertiary provider supporting more than 11,000 learners across Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti, Auckland and international programmes.
The newly unveiled waka maumahara was designed and created by artists Chris Bryant-Toi and Manuel Dunn and blessed by Professor Joe Te Rito during a dawn ceremony.
Pouārahi Māori Robin Fabish said the carving reflects EIT’s identity, whakapapa and purpose. The artwork incorporates Māui, linking directly to the institution’s name, Te Aho a Māui, and Kiwa, the navigator and atua associated with the Pacific Ocean and the ancestral waka of the region.
Fabish described the taonga as a symbol that welcomes EIT’s diverse local and international community while grounding the institution in the histories and traditions of Hawke’s Bay.
Bryant-Toi said the waka maumahara was designed to connect EIT’s campuses and learners, while also honouring the legacy of respected Ngāti Kahungunu master carver Taka Walker through its distinctive carving style and kōwhaiwhai design.
Reflecting on EIT’s achievements, Laitinen said education remains a transformative force for individuals, whānau and communities.
“Education changes lives. It changes opportunities. It changes confidence. It changes the future not only for individuals, but for their whānau and communities.”
As EIT enters its next chapter, the new waka maumahara stands as a lasting reminder of the institution’s history, its connection to the region, and its commitment to shaping future generations through education.
