Ki te kahore he whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi
Without foresight or vision the people will be lost.
The Mission Statement of Te Rito is: “Te Rito will establish an environment within the University of Otago that recognises - Taha, tinana, wairua, hinengaro, and whanau as paramount. Te Rito shall remain an advocate for the ‘recruitment, retention and results’ of all Māori Students at the University”. That whakatauki above lays some foundation for Te Rito. Through the organisation of various events and advocating for the needs of Māori tauira by Māori tauira by being the voice on various boards across all divisions, we move one step forward in the right direction.
For 2012 your elected Te Rito is
Tumuaki (President): Lisa Pohatu, Ngati Kahungunu me Ngai TahuKaitiaki Putea (Treasurer): Courtney Heke-McColgan, Kai Tahu me Nga Puhi
Kaituhi (Secretary): Awhi Wakefield, Ngati Apa
Kaiwhakahaeres (General): Kara Puketapu-Dentice, Ngai Tuhoe me Te Ati Awa
Marama Kainamu-Wheeler: Nga Puhi
Tihema Nicol: Ngati Tuwharetoa me Ngati Whatua me Nga Puhi
Keeping with our whakatuaki, throughout O-Week we had two very dedicated tauira Heramaahina Eketone and Waiariki Parata Taiapa (to which we are forever grateful for their artistic vision) over see and guide many tauira on creating a massive mahi toi (art work) to hang in our whare. The mahi toi is not merely a piece of art, it is a symbol of who we are as Māori students of the University of Otago, where ever we may come from and where we may go. This piece represents all the elements of a journey, whether that passage takes on board failure, struggle, perseverance, it is clear that without these building blocks we will not succeed in our greatest desires. Therefore, take what you want from this mahi toi as you do from life, recognise that you cannot change the past but can always change the pathways of your own future.
Come on in and have a look, it’s a pretty mean piece of art work, that quite a number of tauira contributed to.
Just a few panui to end
Tuesday 13th March is the Māori Commerce Students Meet and Greet down in the Room 207 in the Atrium
Friday 16th March is the Māori Science Students Hui at Te Roopu Māori Whare.
Monday 19th March at 5:30pm is the SGM, where there will be discussion on the new budget as well as constitutional amendments, we will also be having Hangi so come along and have your say.
Nga Mihi Nui whanau
Lisa Pohatu