Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Adapts to Fuel Crisis with Online Shift

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi moves some regional and on-campus classes online in 2026 to help students struggle with skyrocketing fuel prices.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 4:34 AM EDT

Source: RNZ

Responding to Rural Student Hardship

The Whakatāne-based Wānanga, which draws students from as far north as Te Hapua to as far south as Invercargill, is taking a case-by-case approach to transitioning its curriculum. Professor Wiremu Doherty noted that while only about 10% of the student body has formally raised concerns, the "extraordinary increases in fuel" are being felt by nearly every student. For many, the cost of traveling to a central campus for a multi-day noho wānanga has become a prohibitive financial barrier.

To mitigate this, the School of Undergraduate Studies announced that all teaching for its programmes will remain online from April 1 until at least the end of June 2026. This timeline allows the institution to reassess the situation for the second semester based on whether global oil prices—currently volatile due to the conflict in Iran—stabilize or continue their upward trajectory.

Balancing Te Ao Māori Traditions with Digital Delivery

A significant challenge for the Wānanga is maintaining the cultural integrity of its courses, many of which traditionally rely on kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) interaction and the communal environment of a marae. Professor Doherty acknowledged the tension between Māori pedagogical practices and the necessity of digital platforms. However, he emphasized that the lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic have proven that the institution's infrastructure is robust enough to handle the shift without compromising student success.

"The world wasn't going to end if you deliver things online," Doherty remarked, reflecting on the pandemic era. He noted that unlike the forced lockdowns of previous years, the current shift is a proactive, measured response to community needs. This autonomy allows the Wānanga to prioritize the principle of looking after one another (manaakitanga) during a period of economic instability.