37 Years of WIPCE
A Global Indigenous Education Movement
The World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) commenced in 1987 in Vancouver, Canada. The pivotal role of community, represented by elders and community knowledge keepers, was captured in the inaugural WIPCE conference, providing both a primacy of purpose and of place. WIPCE is now a movement of individuals and organisations dedicated to the design and development of culturally affirming and intellectually enriching education for Indigenous peoples.
An estimated 370 million Indigenous peoples live in all continents of the earth and represent a significant part of the world’s vast cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage. Indigenous peoples possess unique knowledge systems, which are recognised as crucial for sustainable development. At the same time, social, economic and political marginalisation of Indigenous peoples is pervasive in all the regions across the world.
Indigenous peoples face fundamental challenges when attempting to reconcile their own forms of culturally transmitted learning with systems of formal education. Over the past 37 years, WIPCE has endeavoured to address this issue and has grown to become a major international event in the Indigenous education movement. The WIPCE conference draws Indigenous representatives from across the globe to share successes and strategies for culturally grounded education. WIPCE attracts Indigenous education experts, practitioners, scholars, students and communities, with thousands of delegates expected in 2025 – the largest and most diverse Indigenous movement on earth.
WIPCE 2025 will run from Rātapu (Sunday) 16th through to Rāpare (Thursday) 20th in Whiringā-a-Rangi (November) 2025. Upon the sacred land Takaparawhau that watches over the Waitematā harbour of Tāmaki Makaurau, the waters that shine and gleam in the sun beneath the foreboding and loving shadow of Rangitoto. The guardians of the sacred fires of Tuperiri, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, will formally welcome our guests to the shores of Aotearoa with the traditional Māori pōwhiri (welcome ceremony).
The four-day conference will include:
- A range of national and international keynote and inspirational global speakers from all Indigenous nations.
- Abstract presentations, with an Academic Committee appointed to ensure a robust selection is achieved. Only Indigenous voices will be selected. The final selection will be endorsed by the WIPCE International Council specific to their countries/nations.
- Knowledge cafe – allowing delegates to network and to be involved in discussion groups on subjects such as language revitalisation, Indigenous traditions, culture, and rights.
- Symposiums, such as those for kaumatua (elders) and rangatahi (youth).
- Panel discussions.
- Seminars and workshops.
- Poster sessions.
- WIPCE village, with an art exhibition and stalls to promote Indigenous art, crafts and artists.
- Designated areas for kaumātua (elders).
- Daily catering for delegates, including morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea.
- Cultural excursions featuring local marae, Māori schools, significant Māori sites, cultural and art organisations, attractions, and Māori and Pacific communities and businesses.
- Parade of nations, recognising all our manuhiri (visitors) to the conference.
- Cultural extravaganza and closing ceremony, a finale concert showcasing a selection of national and international performances.
As ngā kaiārahi (hosts) of WIPCE 2025 we are committed to the values as ratified through the Coolangatta Statement on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Education and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Our hosts
Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau, also known as the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), is one of the world’s best modern universities. We embrace new technologies to lead the learning of tomorrow, and prepare our students for the rapidly changing world. AUT has more than 60 research centres and institutes delivering leading research – from artificial intelligence to robotics, and ecology to public health. As a contemporary university, AUT is connected to an extraordinary range of organisations worldwide; sharing expertise and resources, collaborating on ground-breaking research, and connecting students with industry leaders and employers.
The university has a strong and important relationship with Māori, which honours the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document. This commitment is reflected in our educational, social and philosophical culture. Our Office of Māori Advancement works closely with Māori staff, students and the wider community in advising and implementing Māori knowledge and initiatives throughout the university.
Host Committee
Professor Damon Salesa
AUT Vice-Chancellor
Professor Damon Salesa is the Vice-Chancellor of Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland University of Technology (AUT). He leads a university of over 26,000 students and 4,000 staff – one of the largest universities in New Zealand.
Damon is a prize-winning scholar who specialises in history, society, and politics in New Zealand and the Pacific.
After obtaining his MA with First Class Honours at the University of Auckland, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and completed his doctoral studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
He is the author and editor of many books and academic articles including Island Time: New Zealand’s Pacific Futures and Racial Crossings: Race, Intermarriage and the Victorian British Empire, which won the international Ernest Scott Prize in 2012 and recently published a book titled An Indigenous Ocean: Pacific Essays which recently won an Ockham Book Award this year.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and a Fellow of Oxford University’s Oriel College.
He is also actively engaged with critical work in education, innovation, and pedagogy, and is a publicly engaged scholar around questions of inequality, politics, and education. Damon has worked, studied, and collaborated in New Zealand, across the Pacific, in Australia, the USA, and the UK.
Aroha Te Kanawa
Kaitohu Hinonga | WIPCE 2025 Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) Hapu: Ngāti Rora, Ngāti Kinohaku, Ngāti Uekaha Iwi (tribal) affiliation: Ngāti Maniapoto
Aroha Te Kanawa is a highly accomplished project and event manager, renowned for her success in organising national and international events. With a history of managing large-scale conferences and events, she founded Te Kanawa Project & Event Management in 2003. Aroha is deeply committed to Indigenous development evident through her roles as a former member of WINHEC, and as the current Secretary/Treasurer of the WIPCE International Council. She was also the Project Manager of WIPCE Aotearoa in 2005 hosted by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. She is also a Trustee and Treasurer of her marae Te Tokanganui A Noho / Te Kuiti Pa.
Aroha’s personal skills and passion, coupled with her dedication to her varied projects make her a highly respected professional. She has a knack of “thinking outside the box” to deliver experiences rather than events. Aroha's aspiration to her people and her passion for social responsibility underline her commitment to making a positive impact. Aroha will be joining the WIPCE 2025 committee as our Kaitohu Hinonga (Professional Conference Organiser).
“This is a huge honour for me to be part of the AUT Hosting Committee for WIPCE 2025 as we welcome our global Indigenous whānau on behalf of te ao Māori back to Aotearoa since 2005, this is a movement that I am passionate about to come together as one celebrating our indigeneity to be immersed in our matauranga across the globe, and doing what we do best, showing our manaakitanga, whakawhanaungatanga and aroha.”
Ella Henry
WIPCE 2025 Academic Committee Chair Iwi (tribal) affiliations: Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa, Te Rārawa, Ngāti Kuri
Professor Ella Henry has a background across multiple disciplines including sociology, business and Māori Indigenous development. She has been actively involved in research, teaching and advocacy for Māori media for over twenty years, which was the focus of her PhD (2012). Ella was a Treaty Negotiator for her Iwi, Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa, and was Chair of the Post-Settlement Governance Entity, as Trustee and Chair, until her appointment as Director of Māori Advancement for the Business School. Prior to that, Ella had taught on and coordinated the Māori Media major in Te Ara Poutama, since she joined AUT in 2007.
Torise Flay
WIPCE 2025 Event Manager
Torise Flay is a proud Pacific wahine hailing from the beautiful shores of Safune, Savai'i, Samoa. With two decades of event management experience, Torise specialises in curating unforgettable experiences that celebrate culture and heritage. Torise has led and produced some of our Major Cultural festivals in Tāmaki Makaurau including Pasifika Festival and Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival. Torise has also successfully orchestrated large-scale celebrations including the Emirates Team NZ Welcome Home parade and All Blacks Welcome Home parade. Torise's passion for showcasing Māori and Pacific culture to the world was enabled through leading the Pasifika activation at the 2021 Rugby World Cup hosted in Aotearoa.
Torise's passion for her work is fuelled by her commitment to showcasing the beauty of culture and creating experiences that promote cultural exchange.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity to be part of the movement that is WIPCE 2025. I am excited at the chance of building the platform that celebrates and honours the rich cultures, histories, and contribution of our Indigenous communities. I am very much looking forward to bringing WIPCE 2025 to our communities and beyond when we host it here in Aotearoa in November 2025”.
Alanis Peacock
WIPCE 2025 Project Coordinator Iwi (tribal) affiliations: Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitāne
Alanis Peacock is a motivated and highly organised young professional with a deep passion for her work. She consistently strives to deliver her best in every endeavour. Throughout her career, she has gained diverse experiences in central and local government, as well as corporate organisations.
She has had a range of experience in event and project coordination from supporting in the management of large projects for local councils, and leading programmes that support the success of Māori graduates. Alanis has also been instrumental in organising various events which contribute to the advancement of Māori knowledge and traditions, such as M9, Mānawatia a Matariki and Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori.
Currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Māori development, Alanis continues to demonstrate her dedication to her communities through academic pursuits. Beyond her professional and educational endeavours, she holds the position of Tūmuaki (co-president) for Tītahi ki Tua - AUT Māori Students Association. In this role, she actively engages with Te Mana Ākonga, the The National Māori Tertiary Students’ Association, and the wider AUT Student Association (AUTSA). Within these capacities, Alanis supports the leadership and governance of Tītahi ki Tua within the university while advocating for Māori students at AUT.
Manihera Te Hei
WIPCE 2025 Digital Co-ordinator
Manihera Te Hei is a first language speaker of te reo Māori who was raised immersed in te ao Māori, an upbringing that has shaped the way he navigates through his work and his life. Through his passion for te reo Māori and te ao Māori, he has worked in both the public and private sectors to promote the indigenous language of Aotearoa through his content creation and social media skillset – which he has developed over several years.
Taituwha King
WIPCE 2025 Cultural Committee Chair Iwi (tribal) affiliations: Waikato - Ngāti Mahuta ki te hauāuru
Taituwha is a respected expert in Māori customs, protocols, and language, specializing in traditional arts such as haka, waiata, and mōteatea. He has showcased his talents with esteemed national groups like Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, Mātaatua ki Rotorua, and Waipapa Marae, earning recognition as a cultural leader and ambassador for New Zealand. Taituwha's expertise has taken him around the world, leading delegations to international destinations including Europe, the USA, and the Pacific. Apart from his performance skills, he is a skilled composer, winning the 2022 National Choir Auahi Kore Performance Award for a piece with te reo Māori lyrics.
Taituwha is deeply rooted in his cultural heritage, actively involved in his tribe, Ngāti Mahuta ki te hauāuru, his marae, Te Kooraha, and his community, exemplifying the Māori saying "Tangata i ākona ki te kāinga, tūngia ki te marae, tau ana", emphasizing the importance of honoring one's roots and contributing back to the community. Taituwha King will be joining the WIPCE 2025 Committee as the Chair of the Cultural Committee.
Colleen Leauanae
WIPCE 2025 AUT Project Manager Iwi (tribal) affiliations: Te Rarawa / Ngāpuhi
Colleen Leauanae (nee Noble) is of Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi descent, a true mokopuna of Hokianga – Tai Tokerau. She has twenty years’ experience in tertiary education, having held roles in student support and currently as Manager Special Projects, Strategic Relationships and Equity Māori at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Colleen’s passion and drive to see our people succeed and can do, get the work done, attitude permeates through everything she does. Colleen has had the privilege of being mentored and inspired by people who have imparted the values of serving our communities selflessly within a fun and uplifting environment. Based in Auckland, Colleen holds governance roles across other organisations, and works diligently in educational and community initiatives that advance iwi, hapū and whānau aspirations.