Article written by Sue O’Donnell, Manutaki, Executive Director, Development, Alumni Relations, and the Foundation, Victoria University of Wellington
At Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, kaitiakitanga (guardianship and responsibility for what has been entrusted to us) is at the core of how we approach Fundraising and Alumni Engagement. It reflects our obligation to not just protect and honour the gifts we receive, but to ensure they create enduring and positive impact.
A major step forward in deepening this commitment has been our teams move into the portfolio of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and Kaitiakitanga. This transition is both practical and symbolic: it reflects our university’s commitment to Te Tiriti, and our recognition that Fundraising, when done with care and respect, is a form of kaitiakitanga.
It’s an inspiration to work alongside a team that brings this responsibility to life. I see it in the integrity of our donor relationships, in the thoughtful way we communicate impact, and in the enduring connections we’ve built with our Alumni.
What must be a career highlight struck in 2023. We received a $13.5 million bequest from the late Dr Aola Richards. This transformative gift came as a complete surprise when her executors reached out. Dr Richards (an alumna of Victoria) became the first woman in Aotearoa New Zealand to earn a PhD in Biological Science. Her gift has established the Dr Aola Richards Entomology Fund, which will support postgraduate and postdoctoral entomology research in perpetuity. The Victoria University of Wellington Foundation is honoured to act as kaitiaki of this fund – now and into the future – ensuring her generosity continues to inspire and create impact for years to come. It is a powerful reminder that kaitiakitanga is not only about what we do today, but how we carry forward the hopes and values of those who entrust their support to us.
A meaningful success for our team has been the creation and fundraising for the Ngā Hoe a Kupe Pathfinder Scholarship Programme. These scholarships are designed to support some of the most vulnerable and under-served young people in the Wellington region to access and thrive at university. At over $50,000 per scholarship, it was a bold and necessary step forward to grow meaningful equity scholarships. Through authentic storytelling, a strong case for support and the courage of our incredible rangatahi to share their journeys, we brought donors into a shared vision. The response from our donor community has been deeply affirming and we are now celebrating our 5th year of welcoming recipients.
To our Donors, Alumni, and friends: thank you. Your belief in Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, in our students, and in the future we are building together is a taonga. Through kaitiakitanga, we honour that trust and carry it forward.
And in that same spirit, we are excited to extend our manaakitanga to colleagues across the Advancement profession as we welcome you to our campus for the Educate Plus NZ Chapter Summit this August. It’s an opportunity to gather, learn from one another, and collectively uplift the incredible work being done across the sector.
I look forward to seeing you there!
