Kathie Irwin

Ko Hikurangi me Moumoukai ngā maunga, Ko Waiapu me Nuhaka ngā awa, Ko Putaanga me Tāne-Nui-A-Rangi ngā marae, Nō ngā mōtu ō Orkney, Kōtirana me Airani hoki ōku whakapapa. Ko Kathie Irwin ahau.  

I am a third generation Māori educationist, a devoted mother and besotted nannie. Public service and social justice are deeply embedded in my bloodlines. My passion inspires me to contribute to nation building, in innovative and creative ways, which are framed by Sir Apirana Ngata’s whakatauāki (proverb) “E tipu, e rea”. This proverb speaks to the possibilities of Treaty based models of change that create authentic transformation.  

As a Māori, feminist, academic I specialized in Māori education, research, and development, for nearly thirty years. I have worked as an academic at Massey and Victoria Universities, Christchurch College of Education, the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust, and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi. 

My second career has been in senior management and governance, across the NGO, Iwi, and public sectors. I have worked at Te Puni Kokiri, the Families Commission, the Human Rights Commission, Barnardo NZ, the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Office of the Children’s Commission and Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission. I have served in governance roles as Ministerial Nominations from the 1980’s, until recently, when I served as Minister of Education nomination on Te Mana Whakahaere (Council) of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (2013 – 2017). 

I am the Founder and CEO of Kathie Irwin & Associates.