Professor Johnson Witehira announced as new head of Te Rewa o Puanga School of Music and Screen Arts

Professor Witehira’s  appointment to Te Rewa o Puanga, which sits within Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts (CoCA), marks a significant step in the school’s commitment to innovation, cultural authenticity and academic excellence.

Professor Witehira is best known for his work blending traditional Māori practices with contemporary technologies. His projects have included the development of Māori typefaces, large-scale public artworks and digital experiences. He has collaborated with major institutions, including creating works displayed in New York’s Times Square, and spearheading culturally significant design initiatives in partnership with Māori communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

His role will involve working closely with Associate Dean Toi Māori Rongomaiaia Te Whaiti to strengthen the integration of Māori knowledge and perspectives within the school, including connecting the new Mātauranga Toi Māori major with the Bachelor of Screen Arts (BSA) programme. Professor Witehira’s industry expertise and knowledge of emerging technologies will help bolster the National Academy of Screen Arts (NASA) as a leader in screen arts education and training.

Professor Witehira’s leadership will be aligned with the university’s Tiriti-led approach to education and research, ensuring that te ao Māori (the Māori worldview) remains a central guiding principle in all academic programmes and collaborations.

Professor Witehira has a longstanding connection to Massey and the wider screen arts industry. Since completing his doctorate in Māori Visual Arts at the university in 2013, he has held influential roles in both academia and industry and has become one of Aotearoa’s foremost innovators in Māori art and design.

His leadership and vision have also extended to the broader creative community, where he has helped shape the future of design and digital arts in Aotearoa and internationally. He comes to Massey from Indigenous Design and Innovation Aotearoa (IDIA), which he co-founded and where he served as co-director for seven years. He is also a founding member of Āpōpō Creative Tech Hub.

Professor Witehira is a member of the New Zealand Game Developers Conference Board and his background spans multiple creative industries, including game design, product design and spatial design with a particular focus on innovative, Indigenous-led approaches.

CoCA Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Maile says, “Professor Witehira’s exceptional career as an academic, designer and creative industries entrepreneur, as well as his recognition internationally as a leading cultural innovator, exemplifies the values and trajectory of Te Rewa o Puanga School of Commercial Music and Screen Arts. We are so excited to welcome Professor Witehira back to Massey University and look forward to the transformative impact of his leadership.”