Hohepa Renata: “My job is to give as much I can to my students so that they succeed – their success is my success. I’m a firm believer in the notion, ‘I see me’; when I see my students, I see myself in them”
This year Unitec has nominated Hohepa ‘Papa Ho’ Renata for an Ako Aotearoa – Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award. Ako Aotearoa is a government funded organisation committed to building collaborative relationships with the tertiary sector, to encourage effective teaching and learning practices.
Each year more than a dozen of New Zealand’s top tertiary teachers are celebrated at the Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards, which is hosted by the Minister of Education. There are four categories including the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award, and a significant prize pool.
Hohepa was selected for nomination for the Awards by our Ako Ahimura Learning and Teaching Committee, in the Kaupapa Māori category. He is our first staff member to have been nominated in this category. Being nominated is a huge achievement in itself, many hours of intensive work are required to compile a portfolio.
There are many things that make Hohepa stand out, particularly the relationship he creates with his students. In this video (part of his portfolio submission) you’ll hear some of our leaders share their perspective on what makes Hohepa such a worthy nominee, including our Director – Research & Enterprises, Marcus Williams, who says: “Hohepa has a fantastic way with people, and that skill is extremely important for teaching, his rapport and empathy allows him to capture the hearts and minds of our students”.
Te Puna Ako provides a support resource to all our nominees for these Awards; in this case the expert guidance of Academic Advisor Karen Haines, who helped Hohepa through the process.
Congratulations to Hohepa – Your nomination is a great achievement and an inspiration to everyone at Unitec!
Our annual Unitec Excellence Awards now align with the national Ako Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards
In 2018 our Unitec Staff Awards were revised to a new format with more categories, meaning a broader range of work and people are recognised across teaching, support services and research. The awards were renamed the Unitec Excellence Awards.
Two of the teaching categories align with the Ako Aotearoa – Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards. The winners of these categories – Excellence in Teaching and Kaupapa Māori – may be supported to develop their entry to the national Awards.
Nominations are coming up in October for the Excellence Awards so now is the time to look at the categories and criteria, and consider a colleague or team that has stood out for you during the year. Go to our Nest Unitec Excellence Awards 2018 page to find out about the categories and award criteria.
Papa Ho is the man!! Much deserved nomination and hope he brings home some much deserved hardware from the awards night when it happens.
Kia kaha and ngā mihi my bro!
Papa Hohepa has lots of kumara in his pockets. He is generous with his time and sharing of knowledge. If I could memorize at least one page of his thoughts I would be very blessed. Some people don’t have to have capital letters before their name to know they are a wealth of knowledge and he is one of them. He has all the letters in the alphabet, both Maori and Pakeha. Mauri Ora Papa Hohepa. P.s. Not sure if you are at “tuck your shirt in your tarau’s yet, lol”
Tena te hua o te rakau. e tipu ai iaia i te mara nui o Wairaka. E hari ana te mana o tana tupuna, e tuku ai ki te ao.
Ka nui te pai te ranagtira.
Congratultions Papa Ho -you’re the man!
What a fabulous tohu Papa Ho. I love the phrase “I see me when I see my students; I see myself in them” He kai kei aku ringa. Something I aliken to. Well deserved. Mauri ora.