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

The flap over DEI: woke, or just awake?

Business

Ella Henry says she is happy to be called “woke”, because it means she is wide awake, aware of efforts to increase social injustice and racial disha...

AUT builds on the success of Te Aronui Framework

Auspicious start to inaugural law course

Law

Dean of AUT Law School, Ahorangi Professor Khylee Quince welcomed nearly 300 students to the first lecture on tikanga Māori and Aotearoa NZ’s legal system...

AUT celebrates 2025 UniPrep graduates

AUT’s South Campus was one of celebration recently as 206 school leavers graduated from the University’s UniPrep programme.

Meet some of our Māori students

Taania Williams

Ngāti Porōu, Rongowhakaata, Rereahu, Tainui, Te Atiawa, Taranaki

For Taania Williams, a career as a teacher was always a strong possibility, and she now loves teaching at the very school she once attended herself.

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.

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.

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.

Georgia Breeze

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui

Her dream is to work as a chef on a superyacht one day, says Georgia Breeze who is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts with a minor in Te Reo Māori.

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.

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.

Alysha Clark

She loves working with tāngata whaiora of all ages, says Alysha Clark who is a nurse practitioner at Manurewa Healthcare, a South Auckland general practice.

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.

Kathy O’Carroll

Te Atiawa, Waitara

For Kathy O’Carroll, her passion for working with the Deaf community started more than 20 years ago and eventually led her to AUT’s Bachelor of Arts.

Alex Tawharu

Ngāti Raukawa

Her passion for storytelling has deep roots, says Alex Tawharu who studied advertising and public relations, and now works as a copywriter at Bastion Shine.

Bradley Smith

Kāi Tahu

Postgraduate study in education is stimulating, says Bradley Smith who came to AUT to study a Master of Education and is now enrolled in a Doctor of Education.

Monique Oyagawa

Ngāi Tahu, Samoan, Japanese, European

There have been many pinch-me moments since she joined Remix Magazine in 2021 as part of her AUT business workplace experience, says Monique Oyagawa.

Gloria Rapoto

Te Rarawa

Working in the District Court inspired her to study law, says Gloria Rapoto who graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in mid-2024.

Louis Hartley

Te Atiawa (Taranaki)

He loves that it’s his job to be informed, says Louis Hartley who studied a degree in public relations and now works for GRC Partners + Porter Novelli.

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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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