Dr Hirini Kaa, Kaiwhakatō (Director)
He uri nō ngā iwi o te Tairāwhiti, Hirini Kaa brings to Te Kākano Leadership Institute a distinguished record of leadership across academia, community, and society. Rooted in the mātauranga of Aotearoa and Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa, and drawing from his grounding in the Anglican Church and global Christian traditions, Hirini’s work on leadership bridges cultural, spiritual, and intellectual worlds.
As Kaiārahi for the Faculty of Arts at Waipapa Taumata Rau (University of Auckland), Hirini led innovative projects embedding Māori and Pacific values into teaching and faculty culture. Hirini identified early on that the challenge in Māori and Pacific outcomes was not the students, but the staff. He initiated a programme around teaching called Ako Arts, in which a select group of academics journeyed through an engagement with mātauranga. He also led a programme in the faculty with all 300-plus staff to develop a shared Kaupapa Framework based around mātauranga and values.
He lectured in theology and history at Waipapa Taumata Rau, and in his first year was awarded a prestigious Marsden Fund Fast Start grant (8% success rate) for his research on The Young Māori Party: Leading Iwi into Modernity. His thesis argued that the YMP pioneered a new form of leadership anchored in mātauranga Māori while navigating colonial and capitalist systems.
Hone Kaa and his tamariki
Hirini has worked extensively in the social services sector. Following the legacy of his father Hone Kaa, he became Chief Executive of Te Kāhui Mana Ririki, transforming it from an advocacy organisation into a mātauranga-led parenting programme. This initiative engaged funders, providers, and whānau to deliver impactful, culturally grounded outcomes for tamariki.
With a strong background in governance including a wide range of Anglican Church bodies, Hirini has served in roles ranging from the Waiapu Anglican Social Services Trust Board through to the Child Poverty Action Group governance committee. In governance he brings a sharp strategic vision, broad and deep networks and a focus on values for the organisation.
His Ngāti Porou iwi called on him to lead a communications project sharing their tribal history but also being part of a wider significant communications project. During this project the Ngāti Porou chair Dr Api Mahuika asked him to remove all the macrons from his work, and when asked for some words to describe their reo policy was told “nephew, Ngāti Porou never explain ourselves”.
A respected media commentator, Hirini continues to speak on critical issues across platforms. He was highly visible during the passing of euthanasia legislation and during the cannabis decriminalisation referendum. In both cases he argued that the structural poverty and racism Māori face would not be addressed by these actions or would in fact exacerbate their harms.
Hirini researched and presented The Prophets, a seven-part historical documentary series for Māori Television. This was an
opportunity to engage with the prophetic communities across Aotearoa and hear their stories both historically and their hopes for the future. The series also came through a faith prism, rather than the usual political framing. And it journeyed through the lives and legacies of some of the most impactful leaders Aotearoa has ever seen.
He has contributed to national policy and ethics through roles including:
- Member, Faith Reference Group – Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care
- Member, Kaupapa Māori Sexual Violence Service Design Working Group – Ministry of Social Development
- Member, Ethics Committee – Royal Australasian College of Physicians
In 2024, Hirini was appointed Associate Professor in Peace Studies at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (University of Otago) but chose instead to serve as Manukura (Principal) at Hoani Tapu (St Johns Theological College), reflecting his whakapapa commitments.
His acclaimed book Te Hāhi Mihinare was a finalist in the Ockham NZ Book Awards and has received multiple accolades. In 2023, he was honoured with the Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Selected Publications & Media
Unity isn’t the destination – it’s the journey | The Spinoff October 2025
Indians, Mihinare and Anglicans in Maranga! Maranga! Maranga! The Call to Māori History December 2024
Chapter in Ngā Kupu Wero Ed Witi Ihimaera, August 2023
“Letter to my Unfulfilled Idea” Pirate & Queen Salon event July 2022
‘Teaching the Totality of a Person: Manaakitanga, Kindness and Pedagogy: An Interview with Dr Hirini Kaa’, Knowledge Cultures 9(3): 158–168 November 2021
With Michael Steedman Ngā Roimata ō Ranginui: A memorial to pain, and to hope August 2020
Te Hāhi Mihinare | The Māori Anglican Church
November 2020