Pūrangakura proudly acknowledges the outstanding achievement of Dr Emily Afoa (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto), Co-Principal Investigator for Wai Ora, Kāinga Ora, who has been awarded Te Ngaru Whakateo at the inaugural 2025 Te Mana Kiwi South Pacific Professional Engineering Excellence (SPPEEx) Awards.

Dr Emily Afoa (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a Chartered Engineer and co-director of Tektus Consultants Ltd, where she integrates mātauranga Māori with engineering practice. She has a strong track record in environmental and infrastructure projects, advancing Māori participation and leadership in engineering.

Te Ngaru Whakateo can be translated to mean ‘a crested wave’; this award’s name symbolises a ‘wave still rising, gathering energy and poised to release its potential before continuing its journey’(Engineering New Zealand, 2025). It honours an exceptional Engineering practitioner who demonstrates technical excellence, strong leadership and a deep commitment to advancing te ao Māori within the field of engineering. Dr Afoa’s leadership and unwavering dedication to elevating Māori perspectives in the profession embody the spirit of this recognition.

For more on Emily, click here. 

Read more about all the award recipients here: SPPEEx Award Recipients.