Our new Kaihautū team – building our Mātauranga Māori capability and student success

We recently increased our Kaihautū team to create more resource to support our goals of building Mātauranga Māori capability and capacity across Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka, and to support the implementation of our Māori Success Strategy.

Our Kaihautū – Academic Advisors (Mātauranga Māori), work closely with teams across Unitec; Schools and Support Services, to embed Mātauranga Māori in our curriculum and our every day activities. The impact of their relationships and mahi will make an important contribution to the success of our Māori learners and towards our goal of parity for all students.

The Kaihautū role was established in response to the 2011 Māori Success Stratey. Veraneeca Taiepa has been a Kaihautū for the last five-and-a-half years and Toni Rewiri for the past year, but with Toni’s move to the role of Te Taharangi – Director Māori Success, on a 12-month secondment, her immediate priority was to fill the gap she left and to grow the Kaihautū team.

Last month Kimoro Taiepa and Te Hau Paeroa Hona came on board as two of our new Kaihautū. Victor Grbic, currently Senior Lecturer for the School of Creative Industries, just joined the Kaihautū team on 19 August. A further secondment position is expected to be filled by the end of the month.

Each Kaihautū has been allocated specific Schools and Support Service teams, which are outlined in the attached Kaihautū portfolio listing [link], so if you haven’t yet met your Kaihautū, please ask them to join you at your next whānau hui – team meeting – a great way to get to know them, ask any questions, share ideas and connect.

Our Māori Success Champions

Soon each of our Schools will have a Māori Success Champion on their team, alongside the Champions for each priority group (Māori, Pacific and Under 25, and also International for Schools with higher numbers of international students).

Their role provides ‘on the ground support’ for staff and students including identifying opportunities, and helping to implement and drive new initiatives that support our Māori Success Strategy and parity goal. Our Māori Champions will be working closely with our Kaihautū on a day-to-day basis, and in consultation with our Te Taharangi – Director Māori Succes, Toni Rewiri.

One School is already underway with a new student support initiative that is being activated by their Kaihautū and Māori Success Champion; the establishment of a tuakana-teina programme, following a recommendation from an Industry Advisor Committee hui. Tuakana-teina is about creating a relationship support model, providing a ‘buddy’ or mentoring resource, a great concept for our students!

You can learn about our two new-to-Unitec Kaihautū, Kemoro and Te Hau, on the right.

Meet Kimoro Taiepa

What were you doing before you joined Unitec?
I was a contractor for four years in education and television and came straight from a teaching gig at Onehunga High School as a Te Reo and Māori Performing Arts tutor. I was also a stay home dad for over 2 years from 2015 raising our two boys. Previous to that I worked for 16 years at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in a number of roles as a tutor, program manager for arts and business and a national advisor for quality teaching and learning.

Tell us a little about your immediate priorities as a Kaihautū?
Partnering with schools (Architecture and Business) and service areas (Te Puna Ako, Marketing & IT) to initiate, drive and monitor programmes that promote quality educational practices and experiences that are underpinned by our principles of Te Noho Kotahitanga. This with the view to promoting educational success for Māori and for all peoples at Unitec.

You have been at Unitec for just a few months, what has surprised you the most?

How responsive our people have been to embracing the Te Noho Kotahitanga way and how conversant many of them already are in articulating the principles against their practice. Another highlight has been the enthusiasm and willingness of our staff to learn waiata every Thursday!

Another surprising aspect is how culturally and aesthetically rich the landscape of Unitec is in terms of history and landmarks related to Wairaka and the Mataatua canoe of which I can trace my whakapapa to. The old Carrington hospital also makes for a unique dynamic. Unitec is certainly a beautiful and peaceful place to work.

Where are you located and what’s the best way to contact you?
You can find me in Pūkenga located in the marae precinct next to the dining hall. I am contactable by email ktaiepa@unitec.ac.nz or call me on 022 033 9403.

Meet Te Hau Paeroa Hona

What were you doing before you joined Unitec?
I left the University of Waikato with my degree and moved into Māori Television where I was a Subtitler/Reo and Tikanga Advisor/ Translator for 4 years. From there I moved into a teaching position of Te Reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa located in Māngere, teaching in Te Ara Reo Māori. I have now moved into the position of Kaihautū here at Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka

Tell us a little about your immediate priorities as a Kaihautū?
Whakawhānaungatanga is always a priority when entering a new space. Get to know staff, get to know the organisation and how things run. Familiarise myself with the working of Unitec and priorities of the organisation.

You have been at Unitec for just a few months, what has surprised you the most?
I’m in conclusion of my 6th week here at Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka and I’m really enjoying my job and the direction that it is taking. I am most surprised by the desire of many to fully engage and gain a better undertstanding of Mātauranga Māori of Te Ao Māori.

Where are you located and what’s the best way to contact you?
I am located in Te Hiihiri, in the Puukenga space down by the Marae. As my job takes me all around Unitec, the best way to contact me is via email: thona@unitec.ac.nz.