Past and Present Aka Matua o NTKA: Kōwhai Tepania-Morgan (2023), Porourangi Templeton-Reedy (2024) & Gianna Leoni (2014).
It was a chance to look back and a chance to grow as the Humanities Division’s Māori student association celebrated a special milestone this month.
Tauira past and present gathered at Auahi Ora to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ngā Tauira o te Kete Aronui (NTKA).
Presidents from throughout the association’s 10-year history were present, as were a considerable number of the hundreds of students estimated to have used their services across that timeframe.
One tauira who has seen the group blossom is celebration organiser and current NTKA president Porourangi Templeton-Reedy. The PhD student was in his second year of undergraduate study when the Humanities Māori Students Association was established in 2014. He became the president in 2016 and has returned to the role again in 2024.
Reflecting on the past 10 years, Porourangi says there were several Māori student associations that had blossomed at the University, including Medicine, Law, Dentistry, Commerce and Science. The time had come for tauira Māori from Humanities to have their own representation.
“Because of the work of Gianna (Leoni) and Marcelle (Wharerau) and others on the first executive, they created a constitution, they ran different kaupapa throughout the year – such as study nights and whakawhanaungatanga – and also held reo classes to help strengthen that te ao Māori space,” he says.
From there the association grew, and in 2019 the group adopted a new ikoa Māori – Ngā Tauira o te Kete Aronui – as well as a new tohu symbolising the efforts of tauira working towards, and acknowledging the completion of, their achievements.
Porourangi says there are plenty of positive moments to reflect on, but having representation for Humanities is particularly poignant.
“I would say our Māori student associations live within the Te Rōpū Māori universe, and each association has a different story within that universe.
“When we’re so involved within Humanities, it’s great to connect and get a fresh perspective to hear how other Māori students do things at the University.”
There will be plenty more to celebrate in the new year, when NTKA opens its own dedicated space within the renovated Arts Building.
The space is the realisation of a year’s work in partnership with a number of groups, including Humanities kaiāwhina Marie Tutbury, Porourangi says.
“We are very excited about having a dedicated physical space for our tauira Māori to call home, and for us to see the group go from strength to strength.”
