Hōtaka mātauraka | Academic programme
The Māori Centre is committed to providing high-quality academic support for Otago's tauira Māori.
You are strongly encouraged to join the Centre's academic programme. The programme provides expert tutorials for first-years in most subjects and connects you with relevant support networks for the duration of your study.
Tauira Māori that take up this opportunity receive impressive results.
Many of our tauira aspire to postgraduate study and professional and leadership roles throughout New Zealand and around the world. We are proud of them all.
Programme details
The Māori Centre helps tauira develop study, exam, essay writing and referencing skills. These may be part of weekly academic support sessions or offered through the wider University support systems.
Martha co-ordinates the Centre's academic programme, working with some of the most enthusiastic and passionate teaching staff on campus to help students access learning support in their studies through supplementary tutorials and workshops.
Hāpaitia te ara tika pūmau ai te rangatiratanga mō ngā uri whakatipu. Foster the pathway of knowledge, independence and growth for future generations.
For more information
To find out more about thefree academic support you can access drop into the Māori Centre or contact:
Martha Dewey
515 Castle Steet North, room G01
Email martha.dewey@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 5163
Freephone 0800 80 80 98
Kā Rikarika o Tāne | Mentoring programme
Whanaukataka – Ako – Manaakitaka – Rakitirataka
Kā Rikarika o Tāne, run by Te Huka Mātauraka, aims to enhance educational and social outcomes for tauira Māori and alleviate the stress involved in the transition to university.
The philosophical framework underpinning the programme is the story of Tāne Mahuta and the three baskets of knowledge, where Tāne ascends to the highest heaven of Tikitiki-o-raki in the search for great knowledge to bring back to mankind.
Programme details
Kā Rikarika o Tāne uses traditional Māori methodologies of tuakana/teina and whānau/hapu/iwi to create an on-campus community that focuses on building relationships through social engagement.
First-year tauira (teina) are matched with a senior tauira (tuakana) to form a mentoring pair. These pairs are clustered together to create whānau, which are led by our most outstanding tauira (mataamua).
Together they navigate the year, providing support and looking after each other.
It is this weaving of people that you can see in our tohu and that gives our whānau their strength.
Mentors/mentees
Teina can expect a weekly catch-up via text or over coffee with their tuakana who has been trained to provide timely accurate advice – if they don't have the answers, they will know who does.
Once a month, everyone comes together to compete for the best whānau, which is presented at our end-of-year formal dinner.
Nau mai, haere mai ki roto i te korowai o Kā Rikarika o Tāne.
Divisional Māori student support
Each of the four divisions have staff dedicated to supporting tauira Māori.
- Te Kura Pakihi | Otago Business School – Kaiāwhina Network
- Te Kete Aronui | Division of Humanities – Kaiāwhina Māori – Māori Student Support Officer
- Te Rohe a Ahikāroa | Division of Sciences – Kaimahi Māori - Māori Student Support Team
- Te Wāhanga Matua Mātau Hauora – Division of Health Sciences – Māori Health Workforce Development Unit
Tauira Paerunga | Māori Postgraduate
Rachel Sizemore (Ngāi Tahu) is the Māori Postgraduate Support Adviser within the Graduate Research School supporting Māori Postgraduate students.
Ko Hikaroroa te māunga, ko Waikouaiti te awa, ko Takitimu te waka, ko Ngāi Tahu tōku iwi, nō Ōtepoti ahau. Ko Rachel Sizemore tōku ingoa.
Find out more on what the Māori Postgraduate Support Advisor can offer you.