Associate Professor Joseph Te Rito (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rangitāne, Ngāti Hinemanu) is a long-time advocate for te reo Māori and this appointment recognises his lifetime commitment to Māori language revitalisation through activism, scholarship, and the promotion of pedagogy with particular attention to the mita (dialect) of Ngāti Kahungunu. Joe has previously worked as Dean, Faculty of Māori Studies at EIT where he was responsible for setting up all the academic programmes and the Te Ūranga Waka complex including the wharenui Te Ara a Tāwhaki. He was also responsible for the founding of Radio Kahungunu in 1988 and has contributed to greatly to Māori broadcasting, Māori research at Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga and the teaching of Māori at Ako Aotearoa. His work remains deeply rooted in Māori oral history and reo revitalisation, bridging research with enduring community impact.