Whatarangi Winiata, a New Zealand Māori academic and founder of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, died on June 3, 2026, at the age of 92.
A leading Māori leader, he served as chief executive of Te Wānanga o Raukawa from 1994 to 2007 and as professor of accountancy at Victoria University of Wellington from 1974. Born in Hokio, Horowhenua, in 1935, he was the second Māori to graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University in 1957.
Winiata later earned an MBA and PhD from the University of Michigan, worked in Canada at the University of British Columbia, and was appointed Sir Kingi Ihaka Award recipient among his many distinctions.