Our commitment to Māori students at WMS
Tēnei te haruru nei, tēnei te whanake nei e! Kia ora mai rā tātou katoa.
With one in five (18%) of our student population self-identifying as Māori, Waikato Management School is committed to offering comprehensive support and opportunities for our Māori students to ensure academic success and overall well-being.
WMS resources and initiatives
Te Pūoho ki Te Wānanga Raupapa – Te Wānanga Raupapa Hub
Te Pūoho ki Te Wānanga Raupapa consists of four to five whītiki tauira/Māori mentors, who are also Māori students, dedicated to improving the Māori student experience. The purpose of the hub is to focus on helping indigenous students achieve their academic goals by providing extra support where it is needed because they have "been there, done that".
The role of a whītiki tauira is to engage with management students, particularly Māori students, through one-on-one appointments, academic wānanga and whanaungatanga events, thus creating a supportive environment for students throughout their university experience.
The whītiki tauira have a dedicated whānau space where they are available daily for student consultations and visits. They can guide and re-direct students to different student services and networks right across the university campus.
The whītiki tauira are available to help with any issue, including:
- Study tips and tricks for group work assignments, essays, and tests
- How to balance studies and social life
- Planning and time management tips
- Joining roopu Māori and other student networks
It is important to the whītiki tauira that your study here with us is positive and memorable. The whītiki tauira will be prominent to your experience of navigating university life, as well as getting to know who you are as a rangatahi Māori in the business space.
The name Te Pūoho has been given to all of the Māori mentor hubs across the University campus. Te Puoho: Te Pu means the hub, oho means awakening or inspiring.
Follow Te Wānanga Raupapa on Instagram to stay connected with the whītiki tauira!
Māori Counsellor
Starting university means big changes in your life and you may want to discuss personal stress, course-related difficulties or relationship problems. A full-time Māori counsellor is available on campus to talk with you discreetly.
Spiritual support
The University offers pastoral guidance in several denominations. There are a variety of spiritual and religious services available to students on campus at Ko Te Tangata wharenui at The Pā, Te Kohinga Mārama Marae and the Lady Goodfellow Chapel.
Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori
The Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori coordinates the University's mentoring hubs for Māori in each division. The Office also provides information on Māori academic retention, recruitment and establishing pathways for Māori academic achievements.
Māori Management Student Network
Established in 1998, Te Ranga Ngāku (TRN) is the only Māori student association within Waikato Management School and are the second-longest standing roopu Māori of the University, followed by Te Whakahīapo in Law.
TRN provide a whānau-orientated space for Māori management students to connect and engage over kōrero and kai. The roopu have a strong reputation as being one of the most active and engaging Māori student associations in Business.
Activities organised and promoted by TRN include study wānanga, hākinakina (sports), an annual haerenga or employer networking trip, regular hui, social functions, network collaborations and much more. The kaupapa of the roopu is to encourage whanaungatanga of all Māori management students through manaakitanga, rangatirangatanga and aroha.
TRN carry the light for Māori business in education, and it is important to make sure that we build our connections in the corporate space, make the most of the opportunities given to us, and most of all, have an awesome time while we do it.
Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūoho koe me he maunga teitei
Seek the treasure that you value most dearly, if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.
You can follow TRN on the Te Ranga Ngāku Facebook page and the Te Ranga Ngāku Instagram page.
Māori student organisations
Te Puna Tautoko
Te Puna Tautoko is a university-wide Māori support network dedicated to improving and enhancing Māori student experience here at Waikato. They can connect you to the multitude of support services available on campus.
Te Kāhui Pīrere
Te Kāhui Pīrere is a programme dedicated to supporting tauira Māori transition into their new life and whānau at the University of Waikato.
MAI ki Waikato
MAI ki Waikato is the Waikato arm of Te Kupenga o MAI, a national network focused on supporting Māori and Indigenous PhD students. You can connect with them on their Facebook page.
Māori ki Waikato
Māori ki Waikato is a group of Māori staff in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori who lead and promote kaupapa Māori projects such as Kīngitanga Day, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Māori Orientation, Te Mākete, Hākinakina Day, and much more.
Māori student engagement coordinator
The coordinator supports WMS Māori and Pacific students with academic, pastoral and procedural support — such as degree planning, study advising, guiding and re-directing students to the appropriate student services and support teams.
Kingitanga Day
Kingitanga Day is an annual event held on campus that celebrates the unique connection of the University of Waikato with Waikato-Tainui and the Kīngitanga. You can enjoy plenty of good kai, hangi, workshops, guest lectures and cultural activities.
TupuToa internship programme
TupuToa works to reduce entry and advancement barriers which are biased against Māori and Pacific communities and support organisations in successfully recruiting and onboarding Māori and Pacific peoples.