11 Apr 2014

2400 Maori graduate Awanuiarangi

6:32 am on 11 April 2014

Te Wananga o Awanuiarangi is celebrating its most successful graduation on Friday with 2400 Maori students crossing the stage in Whakatane.

Chief executive and vice-chancellor Graham Hingangaroa Smith says 96 percent of its graduates are Maori.

Degrees, masters and doctorates are among the achievements

Professor Smith says the wananga is providing for Maori who have traditionally missed out on education opportunities.

He is urging other universities to perform well in this arena too, saying it is important that Maori be able to play a full part in developing the nation.