Mai Maketu ki Tongariro
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Waingaehe te awa
Ko Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe te roto
Ko Ngati Uenukukōpako me Te Roro o Te Rangi nga iwi
Ko Owhata te marae
I te taha o tōku Māmā, ko Patricia Paraone-Pairama tōku kuia rāua ko Wiremu Hone Barlow tōku koro. Kua mate tōku kuia.
I te taha o tōku Pāpā, ko June Ramsey tōku kuia rāua ko Haaka Mōkena tōku koro. Kua mate tōku koro.
Ko Anaru Mōkena rāua ko Karyn Barlow ōku mātua
Ko Ebony-Grace Tomairangi ahau
Tēnā koutou! I currently study creative writing and te reo Māori at Te Wānanga Aronui o T?maki Makaurau (AUT). My ambitions are to follow my passion for writing as well as to integrate my native language and Te Āo Māori. Originally, I studied towards a communications degree with the aim of majoring in journalism. Communications classes have influenced my writing, and I have learned lots from that journey. However, since switching to my current major I've felt more in touch with who I am as a rangatahi Māori.
I firmly believe in uplifting the mana of our people and providing our communities with awhi; creating safe spaces for Māori, wherever we may be. It is a privilege to be working with Whakauae to showcase the diversity of Māori in all our walks of life. Working with Whakauae has allowed me to share pūrākau and whakaaro from these different walks of life in a creative way; very much in line with how my tūpuna would have. It's an honour to express these philosophies with Whakauae Research. The scholarship that Whakauae as awarded me will allow me to expand my knowledge and skill set in ways I'm excited to see benefiting our people.
As a wahine Māori, this opportunity gives me great pride. I'm excited to take what I learn, through the guidance of Whakauae, into my future, where I can very strongly continue to drive positive change for our whānau. Mauri ora!
