Nau mai, haere mae ki Te Whare Wānanga o Te Ūpoko o te Ika a Māui!

As a Māori student, you are an important part of Victoria’s student life. We have a strong and focused Māori community making up almost 10% of our student population. There is a friendly student support network to help you get the most out of your time at university, in both your study and your free time.

When you come to Victoria you’ll find we have a long history of interest and support in Māori issues and needs. Victoria was the first university in Aotearoa/New Zealand to offer a course in Māori Studies and the first to have a marae on campus.

On this page:

• Māori Student Association
• Māori Student Support
• Financial Support
• Learning Support
• Faculty Support
• Accommodation & Childcare
• Activities & Events

Māori Student Association

Ngāi Tauira is the instrumental Māori student voice at Victoria University, Wellington. It currently has a full executive consisting of eleven students who work and advocate for tauira Māori issues. Being active with both political and social activities Ngāi Tauira aims to serve Māori students and to make their time at University as successful as possible.

Ngāi Tauira is an autonomous students’ association which provides a number of services to students such as advocacy and support, providing scholarships and funding, social networking, pastoral support, representation of academic boards and councils and National representation. Additionally Ngāi Tauira support Ngā Rangahautira (Māori Law Students’ Association) and Ngā Taura Umanga (Māori Commerce Students’ Assocation).

Our Mission is: “Hei muka tuitui i te korowai whakamarumaru i te hunga e whanake ana” With our vision of providing students with:

• Manaakitanga (Support)
• Whanaungatanga (Relationships)
• Kotahitanga (Unity)
• Rangatiratanga (Leadership)
• Ūkaipōtanga (Inspiration)

Check out our website for the latest going on at Ngāi Tauira

Māori Student Support

Kaitakawaenga Māori/Māori Liaison Officer

There are many people at Victoria who can help you plan your degree, but first talk to the University’s Māori Liaison Officer, who can advise you on what is involved in University study and help you plan your degree programme.

Kaiwawao Māori/Māori Student Services Adviser

There are a variety of support services for Māori students studying at Victoria. The Kaiwawao Māori adviser, Liz Rāwhiti, can help you to access these services.

Te Herenga Waka Marae

Established in 1980, Te Herenga Waka is the University's marae. It is used as a teaching facility and a community-based marae. It is the Māori space on campus. Lunch is available four days a week during the academic year.

Te Herenga Waka offers study space, a computer room, and somewhere for Māori students to hang out. Many students take part in welcoming and farewelling manuhiri at the marae. As a Māori student, this marae belongs to you, and you are welcome here.

Community Coordinator

Fa'afo'i Seiuli works closely with Māori students in targeted Wellington secondary schools to increase participation and achievement.

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Financial Support

Victoria’s Financial Support & Advice service offers help with planning and managing your money. They help students who get into financial trouble with advice, liaising with creditors and applications for the hardship fund. They also provide the Financial Survival Guide which is useful for students to plan ahead financially before they begin their studies.

Scholarships and grants for Māori students

There are many grants and scholarships for Māori students, including two scholarships at Weir House, and about 15 equity grants.

To find out more, contact the Māori Liaison Officer or the Kaiwawao Māori Advisers, or check out the Scholarships database. (To find scholarships specifically for Māori students, choose '--Māori' in the Personal Characteristics box).

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Learning Support

Māori Student Learning Adviser

Mentoring for Māori Students

The Manaaki Pihipihinga Programme provides mentoring for all Māori and Pacific students who are undertaking study in the Faculties of Commerce & Administration and Humanities & Social Sciences.

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Faculty Support

Faculties of Science and Architecture & Design

Te Rōpū Āwhina is the on campus whānau for Māori and Pacific students enrolled in science, engineering, architecture and design degrees and majors.

Māori Law Students Coordinator

The Māori Law Students Coordinator organises an academic support programme for Māori students, including Māori student tutorials, study tips, intensive study sessions, careers evenings, Māori law functions, orientation activities, scholarships information, and the special admissions process.

Faculty of Commerce & Administration

Refer to Māori student mentoring coordinator contact details

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Refer to Māori student mentoring coordinator contact details

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Accommodation & Childcare

Whānau House

Close to the Kelburn campus, the University has whānau housing at Whānau House which offers accommodation in a supportive environment to Māori students at Victoria.

For more information on accommodation check out the Accommodation Services website

Māori childcare

Victoria has its own on-campus Māori Early Childcare Centre, Te Whare Kōhungahunga o Ahumairangi, which cares for the younger children of Māori students and staff. It is located at 48a Devon Street, Tel: 0-4-463 5418.

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Activities & Events

Māori Students' Orientation

Every February, before the first trimester begins, the Māori Liaison Officer organises a one-day marae-based programme to introduce new Māori students to Victoria, its staff and fellow students.  If you would like to get the most out of your studies, come along and join in.

Senior Ohomauri Day

This is a programme for Senior Māori students from Years 11-13 and is held in August each year.  Senior students from Wellington, the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa area come and join us to:

• Experience what university life is all about
• Get a feel for what our campus is like
• Check out a range of subjects and lectures
• Find out about the range of support services available
• Meet a variety of key contact people at Victoria University

There are limited places for this programme. If you would like more information please contact the Kaitakawaenga Māori.

Junior Ohomauri Day

This programme is held annually in November and is designed for junior Māori students from Years 9 and 10. Every year junior students from the Wellington region come on to our campus to find out what university is all about by:

• Learning about what their options are for study in the future
• Finding out how different subjects and degrees can lead to certain careers
• Discovering the range of opportunities that a university education can provide
• Hearing from our current students and graduates about their experience at Victoria

There are limited places for this programme. If you would like more information please contact the Kaitakawaenga Māori.

Māori Graduation Celebration

A Māori Graduation Celebration is held on the Marae during the graduation weeks. For more information about graduation go to the Graduation page.

Te Herenga Waka Kapa Haka

The University Kapa Haka group welcomes all students interested in the study and promotion of Māori language, culture and performing arts. The group meets and practises at Te Herenga Waka Marae – they perform regularly and have an excellent reputation. In 2001 and 2002 they won the Manu Ariki kapa haka competitions.

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