Columns

Ehara taku toa, he taki tahi, he toa taki tini

My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but success of a collective

YOU may or may not be aware of all the various divisional and departmental roopū (groups) on campus. Each roopū are autonomous, who all share the same whāinga, which is to tautoko their tauira so that they can aspire to greatness and share their knowledge with their whānau, hapū and iwi.

Te Roopū Whai Putake is the Otago University Māori Law Students Association. It is lead by their Tumuaki Renata Davis, a Law and Arts Major Student. Te Roopū Whai Putake provides strong educational, cultural and social support networks for all Maori students and fall under the national Roopū Te Huinga Roia.

Te Oranga ki Otākou are the Māori Medical Association and come under Te Oranga. They are lead by their Tumuaki Lucy Barber. They had their freshers hui weekend out at Otākou marae which saw one of the biggest intake of 2nd year Māori medical students, as well as older medical students from around New Zealand come down together to embrace in a sense of whakawhanāungatanga.

Nga Mokai o Nga Whetu are the Māori Dentistry Students Roopū and is lead by their Tumuaki Sam Paterson. There national Roopū is Te Ao Marama. Like Te Oranga ki Otākou they are mainly based on the opposite side of campus they are busy promoting Hauora Māori and also promoting Māori practices within their division by having kapahaka practice and te reo classes.

PEMA: Physical Education Māori Association (Te Roopū Whakakaha Tinana) are a relatively new Roopū and are lead by their co-tumuaki Chanel Phillips and Grace Cooper. They have also had a noho out at Karitane and have been busy planning events for the year.

Other Roopū that we hear through the kumara vine that want to re-establish or establish themselves are Te Tai Tuara (Commerce), Post Graduate Roopū, Science Roopū, Humanities Roopū and Social Work Roopū.

Finally, a big mihi out to all the tauira that turned up to the SGM last Monday. Was such a great turn out, and one of the biggest I have seen in my years here. I would like to mihi to all the tauira that challenged Te Rito’s budget, constitutional changes and general running, its’ heartening to know that you have a voice and want to be heard and exercising that right for the future tauira is important and Te Rito encourage that throughout the year and at these meetings.

But enough from me for now
Mā te wā
Lisa xx