The founders of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa understood the importance of knowledge and learning. Through personal sacrifice and a single-minded commitment to the principle of whānau transformation through education, these visionaries established a successful, values-based, inclusive tertiary education organisation for all New Zealanders. From humble beginnings with less than 20 students, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has grown to be one of the largest and most successful tertiary institutions in the country delivering education to more than 35,000 students nationwide each year.