Figure 50 Maui and Tairāwhiti staff on Mt Hikurangi

To celebrate the millennium dawn on Mount Hikurangi, Te Runanga o Ngati Porou  commissioned  Derek Lardelli to design an installation of Ngati Porou Maui Whakairo  which will stand in a compass setting, Te Ana o Murirangawhenua and to be unveiled on January 1 2000. Under Derek’s guidance staff, students and other artists take over 16 months to carve and decorate the seven pieces at Toihoukura. The whakairo are carefully moved to two thirds of the way up the highest mountain on the east coast to welcome the new millennium.

The new Academic Services department manages two areas Student Support Services and Academic Quality. There are 19 staff members and the services provided include: Support and Referral, Health Nurse, Accessibility, Accommodation, Chaplain, Careers Counselling, Library, Audio/Visual Technician, Learning Support/Assistance, Main Campus and RSU Canteens, Staffroom, NZQA Liason, Student Council, Budget Advice and Academic Quality.