Recently three PhD candidates hosted by Whakauae Research Services Ltd attended the four-day Te Kupenga o MAI Hui-a-Tau. Te Kupenga o MAI (MAI) is a programme for the enhancement of Māori and indigenous post-graduate students throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. With financial support from Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga and local sponsors, MAI has created opportunities for Māori and Indigenous doctoral students to gather annually throughout their PhD journey. This year the hui was hosted by MAI ki Tāmaki at Tāne-nui-ā-rangi, the whare whakairo at Waipapa Marae which stands on the grounds of the University of Auckland campus. This year Māori PhD candidates from universities across Aotearoa were joined by Indigenous students from four Australian universities and a university in Hawai’i.
Among the 120 candidates in attendance were Kiri Parata, Stacey Mariu Ruru and Danielle (Dani) Sword. Each of them appreciated the opportunity to share their doctoral research with their fellow candidates. This year PhD candidates near the beginning of their study were encouraged to present a 3MK (three-minute kōrero) with just one PowerPoint slide. Many described the limitations of the 3MK as a good challenge as they aimed to fit key messages from their research into just three minutes. Dani did a sterling job ensuring her messages about CAR T-cell therapy, an emerging cancer treatment were conveyed within the time limit, while keeping her kaupapa clear for the audience.
Stacey chose to present her rangahau, The experiences of Māori women leaders in mentoring, their contributions to the next generations, in poster form. This experience gave her the opportunity to engage more fully in kōrero with fellow candidates over an hour-long dedicated poster presentation session.
Kiri, nearing the end of her PhD, presented her rangahau, Hoki ki te ūkaipō: connecting to whenua tīpuna for hauora, during the seven minute themed presentation offering.
All three of these presentations sat alongside a diverse range of rangahau which included Wāhine Māori entrepreneurship, DNA testing, body sovereignty, belonging, and acceptance for marginalised whānau, reclamation of Indigenous education on Country, podiatry foot screening, raising rangatahi voices and embracing kaumātua vitality and wisdom.
The MAI annual hui is also a time to recognise and celebrate those candidates who have recently submitted theses. Being honoured amongst peers was emotional for all attendees, as there was collective recognition of the persistence and devotion of each individual student who completed their PhD journey.
For all three WRS PhD candidates this was the first time they had attended a MAI Hui-a-Tau. Dani described her experience of attending as, “an empowering hui for Māori and Indigenous PhD students and scholars”. Dani found inspiration in hearing how some tauira let their culture and Indigeneity shine through in their PhD journey. “Kei whea mai te hui Kairangi Māori!”
Stacey was inspired by each tauira who presented as “they creatively described their positionality and personal experiences”. A highlight for Stacey was participating in the afternoon activity at the Auckland Museum, where she had the opportunity to sit in the Whaowhia Room with other tauira.
Kiri expressed gratitude for the connections made through whakawhanaungatanga describing a richness in the strengths-based approaches she observed. A highlight for her was being inspired by the creative and impactful components used by other candidates to share their rangahau.
Dani and Kiri were supported by MAI ki Manawatū, while Stacey received support from MAI ki Waikato. All PhD candidates expressed their gratitude to MAI ki Tāmaki for hosting the event.
MAI is the Māori and Indigenous Scholar Network, for more information please visit their website.
Parata, K. 2024, 9 November. Hoki ki te ūkaipō: connecting to whenua tīpuna for hauora. MAI Hui-a-Tau, Auckland, New Zealand.
Ruru, S., Awatere-Masters, B., Boulton, A & Spiller, C. 2024, 9 November. Ngā Kaiarataki: The experiences of Māori women leaders in mentoring, their contributions to the next generation. MAI Hui-a-Tau, Auckland, New Zealand.
Sword, D. 2024, 9 November. Expanding CAR T-cell therapy for Māori in Aotearoa. MAI Hui-ā-Tau, Auckland, New Zealand.
Recently three PhD candidates hosted by Whakauae Research Services Ltd attended the four-day Te Kupenga o MAI Hui-a-Tau. Te Kupenga o MAI (MAI) is a programme for the enhancement of Māori and indigenous post-graduate students throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. With financial support from Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga and local sponsors, MAI has created opportunities for Māori and Indigenous doctoral students to gather annually throughout their PhD journey. This year the hui was hosted by MAI ki Tāmaki at Tāne-nui-ā-rangi, the whare whakairo at Waipapa Marae which stands on the grounds of the University of Auckland campus. This year Māori PhD candidates from universities across Aotearoa were joined by Indigenous students from four Australian universities and a university in Hawai’i.
Among the 120 candidates in attendance were Kiri Parata, Stacey Mariu Ruru and Danielle (Dani) Sword. Each of them appreciated the opportunity to share their doctoral research with their fellow candidates. This year PhD candidates near the beginning of their study were encouraged to present a 3MK (three-minute kōrero) with just one PowerPoint slide. Many described the limitations of the 3MK as a good challenge as they aimed to fit key messages from their research into just three minutes. Dani did a sterling job ensuring her messages about CAR T-cell therapy, an emerging cancer treatment were conveyed within the time limit, while keeping her kaupapa clear for the audience.
Stacey chose to present her rangahau, The experiences of Māori women leaders in mentoring, their contributions to the next generations, in poster form. This experience gave her the opportunity to engage more fully in kōrero with fellow candidates over an hour-long dedicated poster presentation session.
Kiri, nearing the end of her PhD, presented her rangahau, Hoki ki te ūkaipō: connecting to whenua tīpuna for hauora, during the seven minute themed presentation offering.
All three of these presentations sat alongside a diverse range of rangahau which included Wāhine Māori entrepreneurship, DNA testing, body sovereignty, belonging, and acceptance for marginalised whānau, reclamation of Indigenous education on Country, podiatry foot screening, raising rangatahi voices and embracing kaumātua vitality and wisdom.
The MAI annual hui is also a time to recognise and celebrate those candidates who have recently submitted theses. Being honoured amongst peers was emotional for all attendees, as there was collective recognition of the persistence and devotion of each individual student who completed their PhD journey.
For all three WRS PhD candidates this was the first time they had attended a MAI Hui-a-Tau. Dani described her experience of attending as, “an empowering hui for Māori and Indigenous PhD students and scholars”. Dani found inspiration in hearing how some tauira let their culture and Indigeneity shine through in their PhD journey. “Kei whea mai te hui Kairangi Māori!”
Stacey was inspired by each tauira who presented as “they creatively described their positionality and personal experiences”. A highlight for Stacey was participating in the afternoon activity at the Auckland Museum, where she had the opportunity to sit in the Whaowhia Room with other tauira.
Kiri expressed gratitude for the connections made through whakawhanaungatanga describing a richness in the strengths-based approaches she observed. A highlight for her was being inspired by the creative and impactful components used by other candidates to share their rangahau.
Dani and Kiri were supported by MAI ki Manawatū, while Stacey received support from MAI ki Waikato. All PhD candidates expressed their gratitude to MAI ki Tāmaki for hosting the event.
MAI is the Māori and Indigenous Scholar Network, for more information please visit their website.
Parata, K. 2024, 9 November. Hoki ki te ūkaipō: connecting to whenua tīpuna for hauora. MAI Hui-a-Tau, Auckland, New Zealand.
Ruru, S., Awatere-Masters, B., Boulton, A & Spiller, C. 2024, 9 November. Ngā Kaiarataki: The experiences of Māori women leaders in mentoring, their contributions to the next generation. MAI Hui-a-Tau, Auckland, New Zealand.
Sword, D. 2024, 9 November. Expanding CAR T-cell therapy for Māori in Aotearoa. MAI Hui-ā-Tau, Auckland, New Zealand.
