Māori at AUT

Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau – AUT plays a critical role in shaping Aotearoa New Zealand, and has undergone a transformational journey towards aligning with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

In this section you can see stories of our staff and students at AUT, and discover the positive impact our work is making across Aotearoa.

News from AUT’s Māori whānau

Talk with trailblazers, a kōrero/talanoa

Business

Hosted by the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, this year’s kōrero/talanoa highlighted the growth of Māori and Pacific entrepreneurs in New Zealand.

AUT releases 2023 Pay Gaps Report

Improvements but work still needed

Māori knowledge of animals

Education

Teachers now have new groundbreaking classroom resources on Māori knowledge of animals, and Māori concepts as they relate to animal ethics.

Law School academic advises on Whenua

Law

An AUT Law School academic played a key role in Whenua, a NZ Herald-led project that raises uncomfortable issues about Aotearoa’s colonial legacy.

Meet some of our Māori students

Shannel Yorke

Tapuika, Ngāpuhi

Her drive to pursue a career in oral health started when she was little, says Shannel Yorke who is now an oral health therapist at Te Manu Toroa Kaupapa Māori Dental Services.

Kathleen Tereina Nelson

Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa, Ngāti Whatua, Clan Crawford

More research and action are needed on Māori perspectives on trauma-informed care and positive health gains for Māori, says Kathleen Tereina Nelson.

Amy McMillan

Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi

Amy McMillan says she would highly recommend the Bachelor of Health Science in Perioperative Practice to other students interested the theatre environment.

Heather Reed

Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa

When Heather Reed decided to set up a wellbeing studio, she wanted a welcoming space where friends and whānau can nurture all aspects of their wellbeing.

Tohu Wairua Aroha Harris

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whakatohea

She chose to study visual arts because she is an artist at heart, says Tohu Wairua Aroha Harris who is completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts Te Tohu Paetahi mō Toi Ataata.

Kalen Chase

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāphui, Taranaki Tuturu

Teaching has always been a passion of his, says Bachelor of Education alumnus Kalen Chase who now works as a teacher at Manurewa Intermediate School.

Kenza Taele

Samoan, New Zealand European, Ngāi Tahu

She has long been interested in sport physiotherapy, says Kenza Taele, a passionate netballer and Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) student.

Georgia Sanderson

Ngāpuhi

She loves being part of a large global company with a wealth of knowledge in the industry, says Georgia Sanderson who works for Moët Hennessy New Zealand.

Riku Aupouri

Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Ngāti Wāhia

Deciding to study sport and recreation stems from his passion for physical activity, says Riku Aupouri who is now studying a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation.

Maia Wharekura

Ngāti Kahungunu

The wāhine and whānau she cared for and the midwives who mentored her were the highlights of her studies, says health sciences alumna Maia Wharekura.

Wairua Taru Grant Pukeiti

He wanted a career where he can make a difference to his people, says Wairua Taru Grant Pukeiti who studied criminology, Māori development and law at AUT.

Shaun Adam Atamu

Ngāti Maniapoto, Niuean

His career now is a dream come true, says sport and recreation alumnus Shaun Adam Atamu who is currently working for the Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union.

Justine Kura Tuhaka

Ngāti Porou

Justine Kura Tuhaka has always enjoyed working with children. A wife of 27 years, a mother of five and proud grandmother, she came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Education.

Auriole Lynnette Ruka

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto

She wants to make a difference for her whānau, hapū and iwi and represent her tupuna, says Auriole Lynnette Ruka who completed a Master of Business in Management.

Amber Butt

Ngāpuhi, Pakistani, English

Designing a campaign when she was in high school inspired her, says Amber Butt who is currently studying a Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa.

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The gateway to AUT: our marae

Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae can be hired for community use. Located on the City Campus, it welcomes the diverse cultures at AUT.

Our marae: Ngā Wai o Horotiu

Tautoko: Support for Māori students

Pou Māori – Māori Centre is an iwi Māori-focused support service that partners with ākonga Māori to provide support.

Māori student support

Māori research and faculty groups at AUT

You can find Maori research projects and teaching across AUT, including the following research and faculty groups:

Eke Tangaroa: programme for Māori and Pacific early career academics

Eke Tangaroa is a unique programme designed to increase the number of Māori and Pacific academics at AUT by appointing early career academics and supporting them to establish research-active academic careers.

Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae is a whānau, cultural and spiritual centre, located on the City Campus

Inside AUT’s Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae

Our staff are passionate about seeing students succeed

Students outside Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae

Te Ara Poutama’s Professor Paul Moon is widely recognised as an expert on Treaty of Waitangi related issues

Te Ara Poutama’s Professor Paul Moon is widely recognised as an expert on Te Tiriti o Waitangi related issues

FIND YOUR GREATNESS

Office of Māori Advancement

The Office of Māori Advancement works closely with AUT Māori staff, students and the wider community in advising and implementing Mātauranga Māori kaupapa throughout AUT.

AUT’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau – AUT has undergone a transformational journey towards aligning with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. As a Crown entity, AUT has a duty to actively promote and protect Tiriti rights and develop education settings that reflect Māori-Crown relationships.

Download our Whānau Guide

Read more about what it’s like to study at AUT, get practical information about what to expect from university study and hear from other Māori students at AUT.

Download brochure

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