AUT Marae turns 16
Music, art and celebration were the name of the game at the Nga Wai O Horotiu Marae 16th birthday last week.
Live performances, AUT student work, expo stalls and kai (food) kept the 250 attendees, including Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack, Te Ara Poutama Dean Pare Keiha and Dr Pita Sharples, busy.
Valance Smith, Te Ara Poutama Faculty lecturer, said the event was a real success and he was incredibly proud of all the work that was put in by AUT staff and students.
The event, hosted by AUT University, was run by a group of Te Ara Poutama (Faculty of Māori Development) students, who made sure the event ran smoothly.
Just some of the roles they undertook included communications, marketing, logistics and digitally documenting the event.
Urshula Ansell and Eru Paranihi, two of the students involved in the running of the event, said they was really pleased with how the event went, and with the number that attended.
A highlight for many of the guests were the live performances from Kīnaki, Regan and Te Rerekohu, Rob Ruha and Tama Waipara.
Another highlight was the gingerbread whares made by the Department of Culinary Arts.
Also appreciated by audiences were the AUT performances by Titahi Ki Tua (TKT), a group at AUT that offers Māori AUT students a place where they can come together to share ideas, share identity, draw support, socialise, meet other Māori and practice culture through kapa haka, all in a marae environment and the Storm Hitaua Choir, a group of current students here at AUT.