The chief executive of Te Wananga o Aotearoa wants his institute to become the world's biggest indigenous training provider - to reach out to Maori and reconnect them with their culture.
Jim Mather. Photo: SUPPLIED
The institute operates from 120 locations and provides tuition to about 32,000 students.
Jim Mather, who took over at Te Wananga last year, believes the organisation's greatest triumph is still to come. He is already making changes and is looking to expand in areas such as IT.
Mr Mather said one of his biggest dreams was for its kaupapa to go global; many Maori who had grown up in Australia knew they were Maori but had become disconnected from their culture.
The wananga's focus on spreading internationally would also rely on collaboration between indigenous training providers, he said.