Te Whakataki - April 2021

ISSUE

2

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APRIL

2021

TE WHAKATAKI Te Roopū Māori Newsletter

In this months issue: - Meet your Tumuaki - Relay for Life - Anzac Day - Equality & Change - Netsky coming to TRM - Hyde St Party - Kura Reo ki Te Waipounamu - Alumni Tauira - Meet your TOKO Exec - Support Services - TRM Scopes

Meet your Tumuaki

Kia ora e te whānau, my name is Karamea also known to many tauira as Karas. This is my second year as the president of TRM. - Where did you grow up I grew up in a small town called Mataura but come from Tokomaru Bay near Gizzy. My family along with a lot of other coasties migrated to the south for mahi during the 50’s. I come from a family of sheep shearers, wool handlers and freezing workers, so for a lot of my childhood I was exposed to this high pressure and back breaking type of work. It also meant that I always had a summer job during the break, even if I didn’t always enjoy it. Life in Mataura is definitely not a luxurious one but I use it to drive me to achieve everything that I want to achieve for the betterment of my whānau.

- How your life has been impacted by te ao Māori I have been heavily impacted by te ao Māori and the lifestyle itself is how I choose to navigate everything that I do. I guess my journey started from Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa. Both of my parents come from the generation that don't speak Te Reo Māori and to some that might come as a surprise and might question why they decided to enrol all of us kids into full immersion Māori schools. I guess to be very honest with you the reason we were enrolled in Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa was because our cousins were enrolled already, and we already hung out with them 24/7 so why not?

This is one aspect of my life that I am greatly appreciative of because without knowing it what they actually did was helped us to regain our knowledge o te ao Māori that they didn't get the opportunity to learn.

- What made you come to Otago I came to Otago after taking a gap year after school, my decision to come to Otago was based on having the opportunity to live near my whānau but not be too close so that i could still be independent. Throughout my years here I appreciated the fact that my family is still on the same island, as it has meant that I can go home whenever I want, I still get to see my nieces quite a bit and my family can be involved in different things that I involve myself in here at Uni. To me it didn't matter what University I went to just that I went.

- What has your experience at Otago been like TRM has definitely shaped my experience of being a student, and I don't just mean these past few years of being on the exec. I knew about student associations before I came to Uni and knew that every Uni had one so it didn't matter what University I went to, there was always going to be a group of Māori that I could be a part of.

In the beginning I experienced difficulties in trying to figure out where I stood as it was a huge culture shock coming to Otago. I had never been surrounded by so many Pākehā and I remember always feeling quite isolated in all of my commerce papers even to the point where I became quite anxious and stopped turning up. Navigating these experiences has definitely helped me to be more confident and has meant that I can help others who experience the same things. It has also highlighted some key factors that are still present today, because although I felt too Māori and that I needed to chill because it was ‘intimidating’. I know now that there would have been students who didn't feel and still don't feel Māori enough. Understanding this and our different backgrounds means that we can all come together and feel accepted in an Institution that has a lot of work to do to build a better and more equitable environment - And what do you wish you knew before coming to Otago I wish I knew about the Māori strategic framework before coming to Uni. During my first years of Uni I put a lot of pressure on myself to try and understand information from a Pākehā perspective not knowing that the knowledge that I already had can be used as a key driving force to completing assignments. So if you don't already know this as a Māori student you have the right to request that your assignments be done in Te Reo and your paper coordinators need to meet that request.

Hei whakakapinga ake, If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! I hope that what I've shared with you all helps you to be more confident in your Māoritanga. It's important that we continue to be unapologetically Māori and just as a side note apparently, and I quote “Otago has had an influx of passionate Māori students this year” (LOL) even though we’ve always been here and we’ve always been passionate. So keep it up cause its working.

Aku mihi nui!

Relay for Life The anticipation surrounding Relay for Life 2021 was strong, that whole week was filled with multiple kaupapa and the day before Anzac was no exception.

Late afternoon on the 24th of April, tauira began to turn up to the TRM Whare ready to decorate signs, candle bags and costumes. Te Rito had been hard at work alongside our kaiāwhina setting up our spot on campus and prepping kai for the night. We managed to put up our tent through the rain, thunder and lightning, which was followed by a karakia in the hopes to clear the skies for night (which actually worked).

6pm came around pretty fast, crowds started to gather at the start line for the opening ceremony, and soon enough the ribbon was cut to officially start Relay for Life Dunedin 2021. Our tauira started off strong, keeping our batton on the move, while those who had set challenges for themselves got started on their marathons and their set number of laps.

Te Roopū Māori had the pleasure of performing a few kapa haka items during the night, followed by two of our very own TRM members Tenaya and Haami singing some essential jams to get us through the night. Our kapa haka performance stopped people in their tracks, as they watched in amazement at the beauty of out tauira showcasing our Māori culture.

While Tenaya and Haami had all of their number one fans cheering them on throughout their performance.

Thanks to our ringa wera, the hakari that followed the performances was just what was needed. Seafood chowder, butter chicken and soup was just some of the yummy and warm kai that would sustain the tauira for the long night that was ahead.

After midnight the numbers slowly started to drop, especially as a typical Dunedin night started to settle into the cold. The handful of tauira who were left soldiered through the night with aching bodies, numb limbs and heavy eyelids, and even though that was the case, myself and Jade somehow managed to do the ice bucket challenge on behalf of Te Rito. Amazingly our team managed to raise over $6900, which put us in fourth place out of 43 teams! Te Rito were grateful to our tauira who put in the effort and commitment to the kaupapa, nei rā te mihi maioha kia koutou!

Relay & Anzac photos

Anzac Day Te Roopū Māori members paid tribute across Dunedin on ANZAC Day to pay their respects to those who protect our freedom. It comes at a time when our liberties feel more important than ever. Last year, ANZAC Day fell during the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown, and was marked by people across New Zealand, who stood at the ends of their driveways at dawn. This year’s ANZAC service draws a comparison to the liberties we have as a result of overcoming the pandemic and the liberties we possess as a result of the sacrifices our kaumatua made many years ago.

Here is how Te Roopū Māori marked ANZAC Day in Dunedin DUNEDIN ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE Hundreds of people filled every space available around the Dunedin Queen’s Park cenotaph to pay their respects at the Dunedin City Anzac Day service. Te Roopū Māori Tumuaki Karamea Pewhairangi and OUSA President Michaela Waite-Harvey both laid wreaths on behalf of students and tauira at the University.

For many years Te Roopū Māori and OUSA have marked Anzac Day to remember the sacrifices many Otago University students made during World War I, leaving their studies to aid the war effort, in which many did not return.

HE HOKINGA MAHARA ANZAC DAY SERVICE Representing Te Roopū Māori, Tumuaki Tuarua Nikau Reti-Beazley spoke at the Business School for the ‘He Hokinga Mahara’ event. Nikau spoke of his tipuna that aided the war effort during the first and second world wars.

Nikau also remembered those soldiers who passed after the war and those whānau who lost loved ones.

He mentioned that whanau serving overseas return safely and that peace comes soon to end the wars they are fighting in.

OTAGO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION ANZAC DAY SERVICE Cannon fire sounded across campus at the OUSA ANZAC service as the last post cried through the halls of Central and the Union Common Room. Tumuaki Karamea Pewhairangi spoke about the ahi-kā and the sacrifice wāhine made during both wars.

ANZAC Day and the sacrifice wāhine Māori made remind us of "our shared humanity", Karamea told the crowd, she also reminded people to not let ANZAC Day be the only time we remember the sacrifice our tūpuna made. “Titiro whakamuri kia koke whakamua ai tātau”.

I te hekenga atu o te rā Tae noa ki te arangamai i te ata Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou Nā Tukukino Royal

Equality & Change In recent news Te Akatoki - The University of Canterbury Māori students association, have brought to public attention an important topic that is of concern to all Tauira Māori. The support and value of Tauira Māori and their student associations have been undervalued within tertiary institutions for too long. Te Roopū Māori is no different, in the past we've had to fight for our voices to be heard in regards to numerous topics but especially when changes were being made to the Mirror of Society Policy and the lack of consultation there was with Māori and non-Māori representatives.

An SGM was held by the Otago University Student Association (OUSA) on the 21st of April. This SGM saw ex officio positions of OUSA, that are held by Te Roopū Māori Tumuaki and University of Otago Pacific Island Student Association (UOPISA) President, receive a pay increase by $250, a total of $1279 per annum.

Unfortunately, this pay increase was still not equal compared to some of the OUSA executive members.

Our Tumuaki voiced concerns surrounding the inability to allocate set hours to her positions as at times it can become a full-time job. This recognised that ex officio positions were being underpaid.

On Friday the 30th of April OUSA held a second SGM. Consultation between OUSA with Te Roopū Māori and UOPISA resulted in an amended motion being put forward.

This motion stated: - That OUSA increases remuneration for ex officio positions to $5300 per annum effective from their next pay period

This meant that the position that both the Te Roopū Māori Tumuaki and UOPISA President hold on the OUSA executive team, would have a more appropriate and equal pay to most of their OUSA counterparts. As required by policy, ex officio positions must complete a minimum of 5 hours work a week and for some OUSA exec members a minimum of 10 hours. The increase to $5300 was estimated by halving the amount of what OUSA exec members receive for 10 hours work, to align as equal.

Fortunately, with those who were present at the second OUSA SGM the motion put forward was carried and the pay for ex officio positions was increased appropriately!!!

We understand this is only a small step in the right direction of appreciating what not only our association does to help support our tauira but the likes of other associations such as UOPISA too.

Te Roopū Māori will always continue to advocate the importance of Māori student associations across the country. Unlike most tertiary institution support systems, Māori student associations are specifically catered to support Tauira Māori in a way that can provide comfort especially where at times students are in such a foreign environment.

We hope that in future we can work with our university to at some point see not only our Tumuaki be appreciated appropriately but also Te Rito and Te Roopū Māori as a whole.

Netsky coming to TRM “Na runga ano i te aroha ki te tangata” On the 22nd of April Te Roopu Maori welcomed Netsky and his team into our whare to have an open discussion about cultural appropriation. If you didn’t see or hear already, Netsky was out with his friends on a yacht celebrating New Zealand winning the America’s Cup, where he uploaded a video to social media of his friends inappropriately performing haka and pukana. This circulated through the media pretty quickly and a lot of people across Aotearoa reacted with disappointment to the videos.

In hindsight of the situation and with Netsky to play his second show in Dunedin, Te Roopū Māori were eager to support Netsky with his journey to learn more about Te Ao Māori. We started with a whakatau for our manuhiri to formally welcome then into our safe space here at University. Netsky and his management team had opened up about their ignorance to our Māori culture and apologised for the event that had occurred. He highlighted how beautiful Māori culture is, how welcoming Māori people are and the uniqueness of what Māori do and how Māori do things.

Secondly, we had an open discussion about Netsky’s actions and how to better them. We went into this discussion with our tikanga and values to ensure that we were not to belittle a person, but to educate on the basis of support and showing compassion for a person in their journey with Te Ao Māori. There was a lot of constructive talk about Netsky seeking residency in Aotearoa, what he’s done so far in regards to learning about Te Ao Māori, and what he’s going to do to sustain knowledge in the future. Netsky was very sincere and eager to learn more about Te Ao Māori, but it is impossible to do in such little time, although in his short time in Aotearoa he has opened his mind and heart to our beautiful culture. We later on shared pizza, yarns and laughter with each other.

I believe the actions he has taken to make things right are very humbling, in ways which a lot of people out there would not think this is significant at all. His eagerness to learn and contribute to Te Ao Maori is a big thing, because there are so many people out there who are ignorant and arrogant to learn about Te Ao Maori, so I hope his actions will influence others in becoming competent in Te Ao Maori.

Love you Boris xx Nā Sade Gilbert

Hyde Street Party Woken up by human alarm clocks (aka Nikau and Haami) and the sound of apple Somersbys being opened, Whakāwa concluded that it was a good day for Hyde. Literally, 45 minutes after we got into the overpopulated street party, she died. And didn’t resurrect (properly) until 6pm. So there I was drunk dancing alone with my redbands in the middle of the street.

I found myself sitting outside the old Bakery flat with a random drink (or 3) in my hand and the “Are u ok?” people checking to see if Maisy girl and I had karked it cause we were supposedly ‘star gazing’ at the starless bright blue sunny sky. I quickly sat up and tried to convince them that we were fine and simply just resting, Maisy on the other hand began rolling face first down the little hill behind me. Surprisingly my sweet talk worked, and I then took Maisy to kark it

by Whak.

Joining the party once again, I could hear this really annoying mumbling sound followed by a pew pew pew every 5 seconds or so, I turned around to see where this annoying sound was coming from and realised that I was being ‘shot’ by none other than our kaituhi Sade, who kept popping out like a whack-a-mole in attempts to be stealthy and shoot us all with the toy cowboy gun she found on the ground amongst the rubbish.

After hours of holding it down for us all I decided that I too would kark it on the bed with Whak and Maisy, and that was the end of Hyde St 2021. (It really wasn’t but I’m already over the word limit…oop) The best part of the Hyde St Pāti 2021 were the pres on Grange and with this I’d like to conclude with: Māori street pāti’s on Grange are better than Hyde.

Karshgoooooo!

Nā Jade Mills

Kura Reo ki Te Waipounamu Ko te reo kia tika, ko te reo kia rere, ko te reo kia Māori.

Tuatahi ake, e pari atu ngā tai o mihi ki te whare kīngi o Ingarangi. Nā runga i te matenga o te taniwha wetiweti nei a Wheao Piripi, iti te wā ki a tātou o Ngāi Māori te noho tahi, te wānanga tahi hoki. Ki te kore koutou e mārama, ka waiho mā Aunty Cindy hei whakamārama i ngā kōrero. E te whare kīngi, nā koutou i tāhae te mana o tēnei kaupapa, taku mana Māori motuhake me te mana o tōku nei whenua, nō reira, e mihi ana!

Hoki mai ki te kaupapa e pae nei, he aha rā e kapakapa nei i tōku ngākau? He kura nui, he kura roa, he kura reo e! I te Ngahuru mā Tahi o Paengawhāwhā, i tae tōna kōtahi rau, rua tekau ngā tāngata ki raro i te maru o Mahaanui te Tuarua, mō te aha? Mō te reo te take! I haere mātou ngā kaumātua me tēnei atī ki te Kura Reo ki Te Waipounamu hei māngai mō Te Roopū Māori.

E whā ngā rā e noho ana te katoa hei rūmaki reo i raro i te mana o ngā ika a whiro o Te Panekiretanga, pērā ki a Pānia Papa rātou ko Leon Te Heketu Blake ko Hana O’Regan ko Rangi Mataamua ko Ruth Smith ko Te Manahau rāua ko tōna hoa rangatira a Stacey Morrison. E hika! Kia kore au e wareware ki te taniwha hikuroa o te ao Māori, a Tā Tīmoti Karetu e noho ana hei pou reo, hei tianara hoki i te kaupapa nei.

Ko ngā kaupapa o te wiki nei ko Te Reo Auaha, Te Reo o Karakia, Te Mate Urutā, Te Reo kia Ngahau, Te Whakawhiti Reo me te Whakamoe tau. Kua kī katoa taku kete mātauranga i ēnei akoranga me te mea hoki, he akoranga hōu ki tēnei o ngā Kura Reo. Ko ēnei kōrero me ngā whēako e pūrangiaho ngā whakaaro, kia karaehe te mārama! I tēnei tau, i whai tūranga mātou ngā māngai ki te niao o te pari, arā, ko te rōpū tuatahi. He tuatahitanga mō mātou, engari ko te wero nui, kia matatau ake te reo.

Ahakoa ngā hōhonutanga o ēnei karaehe, i puta mai etahi mea hātakehi hoki. Ko te heihei poroheahea e tipi haere ana i roto i ngā karaehe, te pakaru haere o ngā wharepaku ki te marae, tohetohe kau ana a Ngāi Tahu ki ngā māta waka, me te aumārire hoki o Tā Tīmoti. Rā atu, rā atu, koia tērā e kaha whakatoi, e kaha whakatika hoki i a mātou nā runga i te mōhiotanga he pane kākā ake nei te rere o tā mātou reo. Kātahi rā!

Ka waiho aku kōrero ki kōnei, ka hoki ki te whakatauākī o Marukaitātea. “Nōku te kori, kia kori hoki mai koe” Ka hāngai tēnei ki te tāngata e ako ana i te reo, ā, ka puta hei kaiako, hei tohunga o tērā momo mahi rānei. Nō reira, kei aku haumī o Te Roopū Māori, kia kūrapa mai, kia kūrehu mai ki tēnei kaupapa! Kia kounga ake tō reo, kia piki ake tō wairua hoki.

Kei ngā kaimahi o Kōtahi Mano Kāika, ngā pou reo o te wā, me te hau kāinga o Ngāi Tuaahuriri rūnanga, nāia aku owha ki koutou katoa. Nā koutou i ranga ai i te tira, i tāwharau i a mātou waihoki, i tākoha mai o koutou whēako i runga i a tātou a Ngāi Pīkoko mā. Mō te manaakitanga, ko koutou kei tawhiti!

Tūrou Hawaiki!

Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki.

Alumni Tauira

Name: Porourangi Templeton-Reedy Iwi: Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe, Tainui Hometown: Invercargill Studied: Bachelor of Arts (Indigenous Development and Communications) Master in Indigenous Studies Time at university: 7 Seasons long (7 years) Highlights: Te Huinga Tauira, being elected onto Te Rito, NTKA and OUSA, relay for life, making friends with people from all different backgrounds What am i doing now? I am currently the Kaitakawaenga Māori/ Māori Liaison for Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.

After I submitted my Masters in 2019, I applied for a job in the Māori support team at Victoria, which I saw being advertised through their social media page. The following week I went for an online interview and the week after that (whilst I was in Rarotonga) I got offered a job in their team as a Kaiakiaki Māori for the Commerce school. 9 months into the role, I decided that I wanted to be more out in the community to promote university whilst still being a supporting “pou” for our current Māori students. A new Māori Liaison role was established and I decided to apply, which I started during lockdown last year. For me having a strong support system for our tauira Māori in universities is important and needed, something I was blessed and fortunate to have had during my studies. Now I am giving back in hopes that tauira aspire to pursue tertiary learning and to have the best year at uni that they can have and get that expensive piece of paper. Being in this role over a year later, I feel like I have been able to do exactly that and will continue to do until I decide to pursue a new career. On the side, i am also a twitch streamer so feel free to give my content a follow (@RuPou_LIVE)

Farewell to Māori Centre Counsellor On the 22nd of April, tauira, whānau and the Māori Centre bid farewell to Kiritapu Murray, who held a pivotal role as the Counsellor for Te Huka Mātauraka. It came as a surprise to most of Kiritapu’s students that she was leaving, especially those who have known her for the past four years, when she started her role back in 2018. Kiritapu offered a crucial support service for tauira who struggled mentally, felt under pressure or just wanted someone to talk to. Her office was always a safe space and at times if you were lucky you would get to cuddle and play with one of her dogs that she would often bring in. Kiritapu was always a strong advocate for encouraging tauira to use mental health services, especially while at university. She established a lot of relationships with tauira that resulted in them seeing her as more than just a Counsellor, due to tauira recognising that she actually cared about them.

It was with a heavy heart that everyone gathered together at the Māori Centre to say their goodbyes. A hakari fit for a queen was provided, while those who were present mixed and mingled as requested by Kiritapu, so that connections and more relationships could be established

As the Tumuaki of Te Roopū Māori gave a speech in honour of Kiritapu, tauira huddled together to perform the Kāi Tahu anthem Ko te Whirika. Tears were shed, hugs were given and the last of the goodbyes were said.

With the absence of Kiritapu there is now a huge and essential role to be filled within the Māori Centre. The importance of the Counsellor role is that it offers our tauira with a support service that is specifically catered to Māori by Māori. It’s a common occurrence among Māori that talking about feelings, problems and struggles are surrounded by this stigma that you need to just harden up and take it on the chin. This stigma has resulted in Māori suffering in silence and sometimes leading to more serious issues that could’ve been prevented earlier. Kiritapu made a huge impact on tauira Māori at the University of Otago and she will be sorely missed by those who knew her.

Tēnei te tuku ngā whakamānawa kia koe Kiritapu! Ko te tūmanako ka noho koe ki raro iho i te manaakitanga me aroha i runga i tō ara hou.

Te Tai Tuara - Commerce Kia ora tātou, my name’s Josh and I’m the Kaituhi of Te Tai Tūara this year. I’m in my 5th year of uni studying law as well as a BCom in Marketing. This is my first year on the TTT exec. On the exec this year we have an energetic and committed team, who are passionate about the roopū and the support we provide.

The 2021 TTT executive is comprised of our Tumuaki Shania, our events and entertainment provider Sam, our social media guru Megan, the man behind the money Connor and the secretary being me, Josh. Please feel free to flick any one of us, or the TTT page if you have any questions or queries. If one of us personally cannot help, we are able to connect you to someone who can.

TTT aims to provide academic support as well as providing students with further opportunities to become involved and network outside of regular university events.

We have had an incredible start to the year, with some of our largest numbers the roopū has ever seen which is really encouraging. Some of our events we have had so far this year we have had an introductory ReBurger kai night, our first study night of the year as well as the roopū being involved in the recent ANZAC day services.

It is an exciting year ahead for the roopū with many events and activities in the pipeline. One of which is due to the Business School’s plans to undertake some changes and developments later this year, we have an exciting Our goal for the year is to continually grow and add to the opportunity to move our TTT space, as well as redesign culture of the roopū, hoping to provide the best support and construct a space that truly works and provides for and assistance to the Tauira, leaving TTT in a better all Māori Tauira within Commerce, so make sure to keep position for the years to come. The name Te Tai Tūara your eyes peeled for updates on this. We are enthusiastic describes the combining of Tikanga and Te Ao Māori with about the remainder of the year and what we have good business acumen and commerce graduates who are planned, so make sure you keep up to date with all that’s the strong backbone for our whānau, hāpu and iwi. With happening on our Facebook page, and keep an eye out TTT we aim to encourage and motivate excellence as your favorite roopu may just be making an amongst Māori Commerce Students appearance on the gram. within the University and the wider business environment.

- TTT Māori Commerce 2021

PEMA - Physical Education Mauri ora ki a tatou! We are Megan Foley (Ngāi Tahu) and Nicole Spriggs (Ngāi Tahu) and we serve this year on PEMA as Co-Tumuaki. PEMA stands for the Physical Education māori Association. PEMA was created in 2010 to support whakawhanaungatanga and academic excellence for our tauira Māori within Te Kura Parawhakawai: School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences. We are passionate about all things physical activity, the sports sector and Māori health and wellbeing.

This year, we are undergoing extensive revitalisation and connection back to our whakapapa as a roopū. This journey has seen us connect with our tuakana over Zoom and wananga through what it means to be a member of PEMA and how we can navigate our roles as kaitiaki of the association.

Semester 1 has seen weekly study nights back up and running for our whanau and the provision of a good hearty kai has meant a few new faces have shown up. We are proud to also be facilitating the teaching of Ko Taku Mana, a haka written by PEMA alumni Hamuera Maika to be performed in celebration and honouring of all graduates of our school. This initiative has been an important part of our mahi to uplift and give life to the legacy of PEMA while also continuing to connect students to staff. We continue to bring our aspirations alive for tauira by working closely with Te Koronga: a Māori postgraduate research excellence group led by Associate Professor Anne-Marie Jackson and Dr Chanel Philips.

This year we are excited to engage with new tauira and advocate for them as we all move through our university journeys. Stay updated through our socials and please "Mā te tuakana te teina e tōtika, Mā te teina te tuakana don’t hesitate to reach us through email. e tōtika."

Email: tekahurangi.skelton@otago.ac.nz - Physical Education Māori Association - PEMA - pema_otago

Meet your TOKO Exec Kia ora koutou! I’m Rylee and I’m tumuaki (president) for Te Oranga Ki Ōtakou, the Māori medical students association here at Otago, this year. I was born and raised in Whanganui and came to university in 2017. I completed my degree in Hauora Māori in 2019 before entering into medicine via the postgraduate pathway in 2020, with a goal to one day return to Whanganui and work as a GP.

Tumuaki Ko Te Āti Haunui-aPāpārangi te iwi, No Whanganui ahau Ko Rylee Dudley ahau

Tumuaki Tuarua

I’m on TOKO for many reasons but especially because I’m really passionate about the success of our Māori tauira and wanted to use my voice to ensure our Māori medical students get the best experience possible here at Otago. I thrive on building connections with others and whakawhanaungatanga is a big part of TOKO hence a big goal of mine this year is to provide more opportunity for our tauira to build and foster relationships with one another. Another goal we have as TOKO is to encourage our wider cohort to engage with Te Ao Māori while also encouraging our Māori tauira to explore and connect with this as well. I saw, and still do see, becoming tumuaki of TOKO an incredible opportunity to keep encouraging myself to engage with Te Ao Māori and an opportunity to learn so much from the others around me.

I’ve really enjoyed being tumuaki so far and can’t wait for the rest of the year!

Ko Whatitiri Te Maunga Ko Wairua Te awa Ko Ngāpuhi toku iwi Ko uriroroi toku hapu Ko maungarongo toku marae No Te whanganui-atara ahau Ko Kiriahi McKee toku ingoa

Kia Ora whanau! My name is Kiriahi McKee and I am the Tumuaki Tuarua for Te Oranga Ki Ōtākou (Māori medical students association). I was born and bred in Wellington and came down to Dunedin to do HSFY in 2019. I am now in ELM 3 of the medical degree. I signed up to be on the student exec because I wanted to contribute and tautoko the Māori tauira on their journey through medicine. With the Mirror on Society pathway under fire last year, I wanted to be a part of the team who will continue to fight for our rights and educate the University on why we deserve to be in medicine. My overarching goal is to extend te ao Māori to our wider cohort. Specifically, something I hope to accomplish this year is setting up compulsory practical te reo Māori tutorials in our ELM curriculum.

Kia ora koutou!

kaituhi

I’m Emelia Legget and I’m from Tāmaki Makaurau, but whakapapa back to Ōraka or Colac bay in the deep south. I’m Kaituhi or secretary for the TOKO exec this year. I help out with communication to tauira and staff, as well as organising events, helping with constitutional understanding, and minuting meetings. I decided to step outside my comfort zone and apply for the position on TOKO because I am passionate about advocating for fellow tauira, enjoy organising events for whakawhanaungatanga and love the administrative aspect of the role as well. Further, I saw this as an opportunity to further grow in my journey with Te Ao Māori and I am loving learning from my peers and fellow exec members. I came into medicine through the health science pathway, and hope to one day work with in women’s health Kia ora koutou! I’m Annelisse and I’m the Kaitiaki Pūtea on TOKO this year.

Why I’m on TOKO: I see so much potential in my fellow tauira Māori to be amazing and successful doctors for our people. I hope to provide support, advocacy and strengthen the sense of belonging for tauira in medical school. I am grateful for all the help I have received so far on this journey and being on TOKO is a great opportunity to give back by helping others.

kaitiaki Pūtea

Meet your TOKO Exec Kia ora koutou! I’m Alice and I’m Kaitakawaenga/Liaison Officer on TOKO this year.

kaitakawaenga

I put my hand up to be on the exec after seeing how much mahi the previous years exec put into us and I wanted to be someone that people could turn to. I hope to build whānaungatanga amongst the cohort and creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone to enter in their Te Ao Māori journey. My experience in med so far had been majorly positive, I’ve found connecting with other tauira in the cohort has been awesome I know it will be a very valuable network post graduating.

No Ōpōtiki ahau, he uri ahau ō Te Whakatōhea. Ngai Tama me Ngati Ira oku hapū. Ko Carlton Irving ahau.

Te Ao Māori Officer

I came to medicine through the alternative category. I was a soldier, aid worker and paramedic before med school and completed a few degrees before getting here. I am the Te Aō Māori officer for OUMSA and TOKO. My role and goal is to enhance understanding of Reo and Tikanga amongst our cohort and to be a support person for those across our cohort Māori or non Māori in engaging in our spaces. Also being a point of contact for our other alternative category tauira.

Kia ora e te iwi, I am the ELM 2 rep on TOKO this year. My role is to represent our tauira Māori who are in the second year of medicine school, organise tutorials and help out with any other TOKO events, as well as to tautoko the other exec members with their mahi.

ELM 2 Rep Ko Ngāti Maniapoto, me ngā Puhi ōku iwi. ko Ngāti Paretekawa me Ngāti Rehia ōku hapu.

Ko Te Reimana Parangi ahau.

I decided to join the TOKO exec to support what this rōpu does in helping out our tauira with the journey through medicine but to also hopefully encourage our tauira to explore, connect and engage with their Māoritanga.

My goal this year is to engage with all tuaira Māori in ELM 2 and get them involved with events held by TOKO and other Māori rōpu at Otago University.

These first 8 weeks of medical so far have been pretty full on, but the transition into medicine school coming from a Bachelor of Health Science degree has been made a lot easier thanks to the support from the team at Kōhatu, the TOKO exec and other tauira in their later years of medicine.

Kia ora e te whaanau.

Ko Jermayne Maika toku ingoa.

He uri au no Te Arawa me Tainui waka.

ALM Rep

I’m coming to the end of my time here at Med School and can say I will miss it no doubt. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, with each year having its own excitement but also challenges no doubt.

I have loved being involved with TOKO and was previously on the exec in my third year as kaitakawaenga. The transition from ELM to ALM definitely has its obstacles and thus, my role this year is the try and navigate this and how TOKO can aid ALM tauira. The exec this year has so much enthusiasm and energy to tautoko us all and I am truely grateful for their efforts and to be involved with such an exciting group. I look forward to what the rest of the year has to offer for TOKO and wish everyone the best.

Mauri ora!

In between all that good stuff, I also attend graduations, help at any events our tauira may need assistance with and vice versa, create events that will help our tauira throughout their academic journey.

Kia ora e te whānau! My name is Tenaya Brown and I Basically, the main outline of my role is to ensure our am the kaiāwhina Māori for the Humanities Division tauira within the HUMS division know that someone here @ Otago University. I’m from a small rural place has always got their back no matter what - that’s on the East Coast of the North Island called Tolaga Bay literally all students want and need through their and have lived in Ōtepoti for about 5 years now aiming university voyage to success. to fulfil my passion for music/performing arts and anything else that comes my way. Last year I graduated Support (particularly for our tauira Māori who travel far and wide) within the university and making that with a Bachelor of Contemporary Music majoring in Performing Arts and from that, managed to solidify me known to our tauira from the start (as well as what support is offered) is imperative. From the get go, it is some mahi within the Humanities Division. inevitable to be faced with both big and small challenges throughout the academic year so it is even I decided to take on the role as kaiāwhina Māori for more important to have people you can rely on and HUMS because if I am completely honest I felt like it lean on in times of need. But most of all, to know that was my obligation, to do my part, put my big girl pants IT IS OKAY to lean on someone when you’re not feeling on and lead our tauira to success; looking after them the your best! way I was looked after and supported while I was studying. People like Nanny Pearl, Whaea Arihia, With that, my main goal in this role is to promote, Whaea Karin, our counsellors, Matua Ken and Matua advocate and help our tauira (alongside our Pasifika Frank; have been primary role models not only for whānau) go above and beyond to succeed in their myself and where I have landed today, but for many passions, assist them in any way so they realise their tauira Māori who have come and gone over the many full potential and be their number one cheerleader years. And like those who came before me and even when they walk across that big stage! 😊 after, we wouldn’t be where we are today without any of Nāku te rourou nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi- help us them. help you!

Mauri ora! xx As kaiāwhina Māori for Humanities, my key PS: Please FOLLOW and LIKE our social medias to responsibilities are: keep an eye out for up and coming events / important 1. to liaise with academic departments and support pānui that may be of use to you! And just a friendly services about any issues relating to tauira Māori and reminder: if you are not feeling 100% in any way their studies, possible and in need of a hand, please come and see 2. to act as point of contact for all tauira Māori enrolled me! MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN. in Humanities papers and degrees 3. aswell as facilitate access to pastoral care, student - Kaiāwhina Māori Humanities services and academic advice (workshops etc…) within the university.

- tkass_95

Support Services

TRM Horoscopes Taurus How are your assignment’s going? Should probably think about those before drinking again Car = Mazda

cancer Don’t just show face but show some form Car = People mover

virgo Time to work on your earth bending, and don’t fall over in front of security again Car = Mitsubishi Outlander

scorpio I know you walk around with a coffee cup but is it really coffee in there?

Car = Ford De Luxe

capricorn Eyes closed? Stumbling around? Eating food off the ground? Time to go home Car = BMW

pisces You’re a generous star sign, young airbender - take time to give back to yourself.

Car = Moped scooter

gemini It’s your time to shine baby! Don’t let the haters hold you back from doing your best.

Car = Mercedes Benz G-Wagon

leo Three weeks left for classes! Better go to the rest of them or you won’t meet terms Car = Ford Ranger

libra You can be a bit blunt during the day, but when the sun goes down you become a certified lover boy.

Car = Toyota Hilux 1999

sagittarius Keep going hard at your mahi, you’ll get a break at some point, or maybe next year Car = Steam Roller

aquarius I know it can get tough at times but don’t let the negative energy kill your vibe Car = Range Rover

aries Keep the noise down! People are trying to take a minute of silence for the fallen here!

Car = Military Tank

Calendar of Events

TRM TRM - Cultural Hour - At our Service 5pm 11am TTT - Kai Night

TRM - Reo Classes 4pm

TRM - Cultural Hour 5pm

TRM - Reo Classes 4pm

TRM - Shield Event 5.30pm

TOKO TPK TRM - ELM Tut 1pm - Pink Shirt Day - Student hui - Huinga Prac 5pm to 7pm TRWP - Negotiation 6pm TPK - Student hui TRM TRM TRM - Performance - Huinga Prac - UOPISA BBQ 4pm 5pm to 7pm - Shield Event 6pm

TRM - Cultural Hour 5pm

TRM - Cuddle fix 1.30pm TRWP - Negotiation 6pm TTT - Kai Night

TRM - Reo Classes 4pm TRWP - Negotiation 6pm

TRM - Cultural Hour 5pm

TTT - Speaker

TRM - Reo Classes 4pm

TRM - Cultural Hour 5pm

TRM TRWP - Wine & Cheese - Noho Marae 6pm TOKO - Reo Sesh 1pm

TRWP - Noho Marae

TRM - Huinga Prac 5pm to 7pm TRWP - Māori Grad 12pm

TRM = Te Roopū Māori TRWP = Te Roopū Whai Pūtake TOKO = Te Oranga ki Ōtākou TPK = Te Puna Kaitaka TTT = Te Tai Tuara