Bridget Watson reflects on her summer internship with Rapua te ara Rangatira
Ko Ruahine te pae maunga
Ko Aorangi te maunga tapu
Ko Rangitīkei te awa
Ko Tākitimu te waka
Ko Ngāti Hauiti te iwi
Ko Ngāti Tamatereka te hapū
Ko Bridget Watson tōku ingoa
Nei rā te mihi nui ki te kaupapa whakahirahira a Whakauae. Nōku te waimarie kia tautoko i tēnei kaupapa i te raumati.
He kōrero whakarāpopoto tēnei mō tāku i rangahau ai. Kua uia ētahi rangatahi a Ngāti Hauiti kia rangona ai ō rātou whakaaro mō ngā whakataukī e pā ana ki te ‘rangatiratanga’.
ga. Ko tāku noa iho ko te whakatairangai i te kōrero.
Nei rā te mihi nui ki a Amohia Boulton koutou ko Matua Utiku Potaka ko Luke Enoka, mō koutou te kuaha i whakatuwhera ki te whare rangahau.
I am extremely grateful to have been able to take part in a summer internship with Whakauae to support the project ‘Rapua te ara Rangatira’. For me, it was an introduction to the depth and power of the mahi Whakauae is doing for the future of Ngāti Hauiti, and Ngāi Māori.
I was tasked with interviewing a core group of seven rangatahi from Ngāti Hauiti who live throughout the North Island. The purpose of these interviews was to collect rangatahi whaakaro around leadership themes expressed through whakataukī that were derived from the research. It was special and memorable to be there in person hearing my whanaunga generously share, in depth, their whakaaro and experiences. The importance of giving a platform to my whanaunga to share their kōrero, that has been passed down to them over their upbringing and their experiences, shone through this work.
This project was enabled and facilitated by Amohia, Matua Utiku and Luke. Through their guidance, they have opened the door to research for me, and it was such a memorable internship to be a part of. What I enjoyed most was being involved in a kaupapa Māori research project as well as the humility of all of those I interviewed.
Being new to research, I instinctively followed my puku and focused on whakawhanuangatanga first and foremost. This meant building connections and trust first, over kai of course! I could then centre my whakaaro on manaakitanga with the intention to uplift the mana of the tangata. The outcome was we were able to follow the mauri of the kōrero in an intentional and flowing way. Nō reira, “nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi”, tīhei mauri ora!
