Te Huinga Tauira is a 4-day event that is hosted annually at different Universities around the motu. This year it is being hosted at Otago University, Dunedin, Aug 30–Sep 02. The itinerary includes seminars, Te Mana Akonga’s AGM, sports, kappa haka, and manukorero, and is based on whanaungatanga of tauira maori in tertiary education throughout Aotearoa.

NGA TAURA UMANGA AGM 24TH MAY 

Māori at Victoria and friends committed to Kaupapa Māori, Ngā Taura Umanga, the Māori Commerce Students Association needs you—we are having our AGM at the Ngāi Tauira Office, Level 3 Student Union Building, Kelburn on Thursday the 24th of May 5pm and need a new Executive.

Planned activities include networking events with similar organisations including Te Awe and Ngā Rangāhautira and study wanangā along with Te Putahi Atawhai as well as events during Te Wiki o Te Reo. Every year we facilitate events, provide business and networking opportunities for Maori Commerce Students.

Positions to fill are: Tumuaki Tane and Tumuaki Wahine (Male & Female President); Kaituhi (Secretary);

Kaitiaki Putea (Treasurer); Kaiwhakahaere (Exec) Communications; Kaiwhakahaere Recruitment; Kaiwhakahaere Events; Kaiwhakahaere Marketing and Kaiwhakahaere Post-Graduate.

TE AWE AND NGATAURA AMANGA FUNCTION 

Te Awe is the Wellington Māori Business Network organisation consisting of Māori business leaders and professionals; Ngā Taura Ūmanga has a special relationship with this organisation, including a special student membership discount. This event is a first for the groups involved and is a chance for today’s business leaders and entrepreneurs to meet aspiring leaders of tomorrow.

This is a new and exciting event for Nga Taura Umanga—so don’t miss out! 

Date: Wednesday 30 May 2012. 

Time: 5.15pm for a 5.30pm start. 

Venue: Pipitea Campus, West Wing (Level 3, Room 303) 

For enquiries, please contact Ngā Taura Ūmanga at: ngātauraumanga@gmail.com 

Ngāi Tauira encourages everyone at Victoria to support

As a Māori girl coming from a small town, I know what people’s expectations are like. For Pākehā their opinion is usually the same and there always seems to be a one sided-story. If two are present however, one will always lose out. Sometimes what is needed is a third-party perspective. So after moving to the big city I noticed how many people just need that one chance to make their big break.

These days it is like you need a degree to pump your gas. Looking at other Māori who have their degrees, bachelors, certificates or diplomas, I am very proud to say that I am Māori. Those who don’t but are trying their best to make life easier for their families just deserve that one chance to show people what they are made of. I don’t attend University, but looking in at those who do, makes me very proud.

After walking down one of the busiest streets in Wellington, I notice how many Māori there were walking in business suits or uniforms. I think about the times we have been put down or peoples’ opinions have made us look like failures. But then when I look at small towns (for example where I come from), I see on the news girls fighting and their fathers cheering them on, gang fights, or burglers. I don’t think its all Māori just those that need a hand or advice in today’s society. A lot of people say: don’t move to this town the people there are mean, and the teenagers are useless. Well I have to say, it’s not the town, it’s the people in it, and the people in it need help.

Every time I go home someone asks me: how is Uni? I usually say, I don’t go to University. Instantly their reply is: well at least you’re out there making your place in the world. It feels good to know that I have the support as a Māori girl without a degree living in the Capital. I’m glad that everyone knows I don’t go to University, because even though I don’t attend, it pursuits others to get out there and make a mark on the world.

You don’t have to have a piece of paper to tell you that you are good at something (it helps to have one if you are looking into a specific career however), but you just have to show yourself that you are indeed special, regardless of the circumstances. So get up and make your place in the world. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what your background is. It’s all about life and living it to the fullest.

Like Genesis—the beginning—gender is where this story starts. Most parents will go out of their way to buy certain colours in clothing, bedding and even certain toys for their unborn child, eager in anticipation to hold on to that little bundle of joy. This child will grow knowing they have two parents that are always there for them, always loving and willing to bail them out of any situation. In teenage years this child will continue to grow, fall in and out of love and make many mistakes. It is in these years everyone will expect a plan to be established inside this child’s head for university, the workforce, travel or military service. It is from here the story is left unknown. There are many different scenarios this story could have had and many different outcomes.

I suppose if Gender is like the beginning then naturally the end must be revelation. There are paths people will take to be where they are now but there is no point in blaming others for the reasons you are here, because it was in your choices that brought you to tomorrow. The words used and actions taken will always carry a consequence, either good or bad. Like in the scenario, the child will grow and become an adult. If they find revelation in their life gender will not only become something that just happens to be, but it becomes more of a purpose. Gender can turn this child into a faithful father, a loving mother, a doting uncle or a caring aunty. It is their identity, it brings happiness, and it has the potential to be apart of their story. This article was going to be titled ‘Battle of the Sexes: Is it a Gender Thing?’, but that would have been a wasted topic. Our society is corrupt, if people don’t know who they are how can they ever help others? Mentioned from the beginning is gender but in the end, where will revelation take you?

r.

A town that is predominantly Maori and is low on the employment scale has little to offer when you are nearing adulthood. Sure it was nice growing up there as a kid, but over time things change and you grow up in need of something more. When high school is nearing its end and the only thing to look forward to is the benefit or New World among other little establishments, Tertiary Education can seem like a far-off destination. Taking that first step can be the biggest and most defining step in ones life.

Many Maori kids will say that tertiary is a far off dream or that they are too dumb to study, read or write. A lot will look to sports, something this country is really proud of, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Some families will push their child to go into the armed forces where you won’t need a student loan and your life is already set for you, and again there is nothing wrong with that. But what happens to the others, the ones that are not in a sport, and don’t want to go to the armed forces? The reality is that they either move to Australia in hopes of a job, get pregnant and live on the benefit or still live with mum and dad. There is so much potential out there in little Maori communities, they may not see it because of the way life is around them, but the truth is, if others from those towns can get out and make something of their life then why not you?

Sure, tertiary can be hard sometimes, but so is life in general. There are the good times too. Tertiary study is never beyond anyone, everyone can do it if they put their mind to it, and put in the hours and determination to see it through. It doesn’t matter if you are Maori or not, if you come from a small town or a city, tertiary is there for the taking.

So as the story goes, once away from the town you see the world and what it has to offer. Some things will be missed, some not so much, but it is all about a leap of faith, to take charge and walk forward. If you want to make history then you must change history. Change is a word and action that many people are not comfortable with, they fear the difference and what might happen if they take that leap. Will I fail or will I pass? The thing is you will never know if you never try. Sure there may be some real harsh times that test you physically and mentally, but you learn to over-come them and draw strength. Maori were a proud race and still remain to be, some people may have forgotten that, but this Maori kid who went to tertiary holds a dream and the destination.

First of all, self-improvement can come in many forms. Some people attend a gym and work out to achieve that six-pack others would like to have, whereas others surround themselves with positive people that speak into their life—and then there are those who do the complete opposite. They sit down and do nothing, moan about their lives being where they are now, and just complain on how unfair everything is.

News flash! Life never hands anything on a silver platter without a payment being made. Forget about what the “world” is trying to offer you—you need to be like this person to be happy; you need to marry people like this to be satisfied; have a job like this to earn so much money; the car, the house, the woman. Enough! Self-improvement is not trying to go after what other people have but rather it’s about something you already have. Let us break it down. First we have “self”, so what does self mean? Easily put, you—no-one else but you. If you haven’t figured this much out, then, wow!

Now let’s look at the word “improvement”—the advancement of something that is physically or mentally around us. If you are continuously searching for happiness via self-improvement but are constantly looking at others, then what happens when no one is around? Where, then, will the inspiration for improvement come from? What about study? If you want to improve then look for help if you’re struggling, read your readings and stop procrastinating. This can make improvements throughout your studies, but the question is: with this improvement are you looking for short-term happiness or long-term?

Is happiness something we pick up along the way or something we forget? Here is a thought—shouldn’t we be happy everyday regardless of the circumstances? Well probably not, but we should remain happy with the fact that when we wake we are still breathing, and if there is no chalk mark around our body then that’s even better. So many people look for happiness in others, but people will always let you down no matter how close they are to you, that is human nature. We are all flawed—no-one is perfect, even if the media tells you they are. What about health, you say? Eat healthy and stop eating for two. Without sugar-coating this: stop being a dog. Now happiness can also be found in faith—likewise:

“Oh, happy day
(oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day
(oh, happy day)
When Jesus washed
(when Jesus washed)
oh, when he washed
(when Jesus washed)
when Jesus washed
(when Jesus washed)
he washed my sins away!”
– Edwin Hawkins, 1967

Some people may criticise this without actually understanding the meaning behind it all. They will say: Yeah, I know, I’ve heard it all before. But I tell you this—knowing and believing are two different things. If you know, what actions have you taken to show others your understanding, have you put it into practice? Or do you feed off other people’s happiness by putting them down? And so I leave you with this. Where to start? First, start with changing your way of thinking, you can’t change anything if you don’t change that thought inside your head. Positive thinking starts now, not tomorrow.

Wellington also happens to be a city with many names: Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara referring to ‘The Great Harbour of Tara’, Pōneke refers to the transliteration of ‘Port Nick’ short for Port Nicholson and Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui refers to ‘The Head of the Fish of Māui’. Wellington itself was named after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and victor of the Battle of Waterloo. Last but not least, there’s the unofficial 2011 name Wellywood. How exciting it must be to have a city with five names—quite the artistic approach, really, but not uncommon for this little capital.

Just being in the city gives off an artistic vibe. When people in Wellington say that there is nothing to do or that they are bored, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are bored full stop—for there’s being bored, and then there’s Wellington bored. There is always something to do, whether you’re doing it or not: walking up to the top of Mt Victoria; taking the cable car to the top of Kelburn; visiting Te Papa for the fourteenth time that week; or casually strolling through the Botanical Gardens. No matter how many times you do these things, you still seem to appreciate them. What’s more is that you are bound to encounter some sort of monument around the city. There are various poems spread among the waterfront; sculptures here, there and everywhere; and architectural buildings you can stare at while pretending to be a visitor and have nothing else to do. The approach to art seems limitless.

Another iconic place for Wellington in its many wonders would no doubt be Cuba Mall, located in the suburb of Te Aro. Here we get to see many kinds of things, most notably buskers singing or playing away. They could be flat or out of tune, but what’s dinner without entertainment? It could be argued that there is a piece of Wellington that is not yet mentioned in this article. Like Te Papa and the Botanical Gardens there is another that comes with the city, and who even has his own Wiki page—none other than Blanket Man. But is Blanket Man really some form of art that we can take photos of? Some people certainly think so. With that many photos of him out there, someone should no doubt put on an art exhibition—another thing Wellington is known for.

So when you think of Wellington, don’t just think of that hill you have to climb everyday to get to uni. Rather, think how interestingly art is intertwined into this city. The people that put it there and the land it is on. After all, Wellington is not just a city, but a city of arts.

This year, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori was held on the last week of uni break (4-10 July), so as tauira we missed out on the chance to show our ‘manaakitanga’ around campus. Hei aha! We’ll be hijacking next week to bring some te reo goodness in your student life here at Vic. Check these out:

Hokohoko Tukurua (Garage Sale)

During Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, bring in any of your CLEAN, second-hand items—clothes, shoes, books, computers, random objects of greatness—to donate to a garage sale that will be held on Friday. All proceeds will go to those university students affected by the Christchurch earthquake, and any left over stuff will be donated to charities. Our office will be open from 10am-4pm to take in your donated goods.

Te Ao Mārama (Māori edition of Salient)

Yes, it’s back for another year and we want YOU to send your letters in te reo Māori to letters@salient.org.nz to be published in Te Ao Mārama. If you don’t know how to speak the coolest language in the world then bust out the online dictionaries and send us a mihi. The best one gets a prize too. Show us your reo and tuku mai ngā reta!

There’ll also be a quiz night (pō patapātai), sports (hākinakina), and debates (tautohetohe) among other things. Keep an ear and eye out for details! *

So, putting on our helpful hat, here are some ideas that you can try to get some pūtea in your pūkoro:

• Get a job. The simplest yet most cumbersome thing you can do. The best jobs are those that are flexible enough that you can still attend classes and have some time to study. Hard to do in those minimum paid jobs. And those high-paying jobs? Hard to get when people are looking for qualified people.
• Student loan. Self-explanatory. You’re a student. It’s a loan.
• Course-related costs. Check it out. This is a HUGE help with those things you need for classes that you don’t have the funds for. That are course-related. Of course.
• Scholarships and grants. There are a lot out there. Google to find out what’s available to you. Get in touch with your iwi organisation or check out the Māori Education Trust for a good list of scholarships to apply for.
• Financial support and advice. Here’s where you go for better advice than what is being presented here. Seriously. Even if you’re not in dire straits, go and see them for budgeting advice.

Failing all of this, here’s something in an attempt to make you feel better:

E tipu, e rea mō ngā ra o tau ao;
Ko to ringa ki ngā rakau a te Pākehā
Hei ara mō to tinana,
Ko to ngākau ki ngā taonga a o tipuna Maori
Hei tikitiki mō to mahunga,
A, ko to wairua ki to Atua,
Nana nei ngā mea katoa.
– Sir Apirana Ngata

It’s kind of fitting that our tipuna who said this has his face on the $50 note—this is the money issue after all—but $50 in this sense goes beyond its currency value. Apirana Ngata gives some good advice to follow because money aside, we’re all here to climb that poutama, to get to that taumata, where that paper called ‘a degree’ is waving. But we always gotta keep in mind where we’ve come from. We’ve all come a long way. Striving to fill our kete with mātauranga; it’s a hard road for the most part but rest assured you’re not alone. For fear of sounding like a cheesy High School Musical rerun, I’m loath to say it this way, but we’re all in this together. And not only will this benefit ourselves, but also our whānau, hapū and iwi.

Kia kaha tauira mā, e tipu e rea. The money will follow.

From understanding the movement of the tides through to celestial navigation, the application of traditional medicine through to understanding the link between the physical and the spiritual, our people and their traditional houses of learning were very apt at deconstructing the world around them and explaining the connection. Yet we are constantly researched, our values constantly questioned, and our knowledge seem invalid until proven under Western theory. Often such construction is made to the detriment of the holistic virtues of the Maori knowledge.

Science has become a dominant global knowledge system and has often been accused of intolerance towards other persuasions. If a conclusion cannot be supported by empirical evidence, if practice is not evidence based, or if there is an inability to replicate results, then validity is in doubt. Method is all-important and objective measurement is the final arbiter. Systems of knowledge that do not subscribe to scientific principles are afforded lesser status and, if given any recognition at all, run the risk of being rationalised according to scientific principles. (Semali & Kincheloe, 1999)

The above quote highlights the somewhat indifference that was afforded to indigenous knowledge by those of the more mainstream thought. Yet as indigenous people having been empowered by the knowledge of our customs and traditions, we are fated to be scrutinised by Western science which strives to apply labels to the phenomenon that is indigenous knowledge. This has often led to so-called discoveries that whilst much hyped in journals, and commercially exploited, to many indigenous people it has been a standard practice for many thousands of years.

Take the example of rongoa, the use of native fauna and flora to suppress and cure ailments. Such use of basic oil strains are a natural and well-developed process for Maori. To others, it is a wonder drug hyper-manufactured by some drug company that bring you the knowledge for the betterment of you, mostly in the form of a pill or a bottle. The holistic connection to the source of the treatment is lost in translation. The fact that nature provided the remedy is ignored once you have the cure.