Kia Ora whānau,
It’s that time of the year already … Graduations, for a few of us older tauira it is the chance to catch up with old friends who are in the workforce and to reminisce about the good times and memories we all shared. For others, this will be your first time to experience how Dunedin and the University of Otago celebrate the achievements of our students as seen in the George Street parades. Fortunately, Māori students have the opportunity to celebrate their successes at a more intimate ceremony with the pre-grads the Friday beforehand. From personal experience, this is most humbling to openly share, not only with your whānau but also with other tauira whānau, the Māori Centre staff and respective departmental and divisional staff members. Congratulations to all who are graduating in the ensuing weeks; I cannot wait to celebrate this occasion with you all.
As this is the time to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of all, there have been many wānanga and Hui that have been happening both on and off campus, which a cohort of Māori students have been a part of. Therefore, here is the low-down on two of them.
Te Roopu Māori sponsored seven students to attend Kura Reo up at Arai Te Uru. This Hui served many purposes, which include the ability for those at different levels to be in a fully immersed reo-speaking environment and learn from some of the best Te Reo speakers. This was also a chance to increase the profile of Te Reo Maori, which coincides with the theme for Te Wiki O Te Reo, July 23-27: Arohatia to Reo.
Secondly, The University Of Otago School Of Physical Education hosted the Māori Games Wānanga run by Rangatahi Tu Rangatira, where there was action to raise the profile of Māori traditional. You may have seen a bunch of on the museum reserve playing some of those traditional games. A big mihi goes out to Anne-Marie Jackson for facilitating this Hui and word is through the kumara vine that there maybe some more opportunities for the community to become engaged and learn about this awesome kaupapa.
Finally, for all those that have been living under a rock, or in your books, a committed group have been working hard to prepare for Te Huinga, the National Maori students conference. As we are hosting this event all those that are still keen to get amongst this and help out, email Huinga Leader Rimutere Wharakura on whari341@student.otago.ac.nz or the Te Roopu Maori email at teroopu.maori@otago.ac.nz.
Hope the studying is going well – not too long till exams, watch this space for some kai times at the whare.
– Lisa
Te Roopu Māori | Issue 10
