Victoria partners for Māori success

Victoria University of Wellington has taken its partnership with 12 iwi and other Māori groups to a new level as part of its ongoing commitment to improve academic success of Māori.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford with Gerrard Albert, chair of Nga Tangata Tiaki o Whanganui.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford with Gerrard Albert, chair of Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui.

The University signed 12 Relation Agreements with Māori partners that aim to recruit and graduate more Māori students, and strengthen engagement with iwi and other Māori communities through its Taihonoa programme.

The Agreements were signed at the thirtieth anniversary celebrations of the University’s Te Tumu Herenga Waka meeting house earlier this month with:Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi, Maniapoto Māori Trust Board, Ruapuha-Uekaha Hapū Trust, Te Kotahitanga o Te Arawa Fisheries Trust, Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, Ngāti Rangi Trust, Uenuku Charitable Trust, Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu, Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust, Te Rau Matatini and Te Kūwaha, NIWA.

A number of Māori students are already studying under the Taihonoa programme, through which the University and iwi jointly sponsor scholarships to support talented Māori to undertake study at Victoria.

Victoria University has committed $250,000 annually to the programme and is actively seeking more iwi and Māori groups to join the scheme.

The Taihonoa Programme was established in 2015 and invites iwi and Māori organisations, to match the University’s contribution dollar-for-dollar to set up scholarships for aspiring Māori students. The Māori partners decide how the scholarship funding is spent and the eligibility criteria so that the scholarships align with their strategic priorities.

Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, the post-settlement governance entity established for the Te Awa Tupua Settlement, is one entity already involved in the scheme. It has sponsored seven students to study at Victoria to gain the skills and knowledge they will need to contribute to the technical, scientific, policy, legal, governance and administrative capacity of their tribe.

Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui project manager Hayden Turoa says: “We want to grow and develop Whanganui Iwi capacity to meet its functions and responsibilities towards the health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River).”

Whanganui Iwi established a selection process to ensure its candidates demonstrate a commitment towards contributing to the long-term health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua.

Victoria’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) Professor Rawinia Higgins says the Taihonoa scholarship programme is about raising Māori achievement in a way that meets the needs and objectives of iwi and Māori communities.

“These scholarships can be awarded to students of a particular discipline, or fund student accommodation fees, or be offered to those who are first in their family to attend university. It’s all about enabling more Māori to gain the benefits of tertiary education, while meeting the current and future needs of their iwi.

“These scholarships also enable us to connect iwi and other Māori groups with their students and the University, which opens the door for joint initiatives in the future, to increase Māori achievement and lifelong success.”

The University is committed to fostering academic excellence and next year will also offer $660,000 in Excellence and Achiever scholarships to Māori first-year students.