Āwhina Alumni

Juscinta

Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Horouta te waka
Ko Ruataupare te marae
Ko te Whānau-a-Ruataupare te hapū
Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi
Ko Juscinta Grace tōku ingoa

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

I was introduced to the newly established Āwhina group in my first year at Vic by my sister-in-law Kiri. I was a little bit nervous about doing science when none of my friends were and at times I felt a bit out of my depth! I got through my first year with lots of help from Kiri (who was an Āwhina mentor) and the Āwhina group. After that, it got way easier and science tikanga at Vic became much easier to understand and abide by. I graduated in 2004 with a BSC majoring in Ecology and Biodiversity and a BA with a double major in Māori studies and Reo Māori. A year later I completed my honours in Māori studies.

I am currently working at Te Puni Kōkiri as an analyst in the policy division. 

Kirikowhai

Te Arawa (Tuhourangi, Ngati Whakaue)

I studied a conjoint BSc/BCA (Mathematics and Māori Business) at Vic. At the moment I work in the Census Division at Statistics New Zealand and have had the opportunity to be involved in many different aspects/phases of the census survey process. From managing a team of collectors during the collection phase, to evaluating data during the processing phase and to creating outputs from the latest Census data that will hopefully benefit Māori people in making informed decisions about our future development.

Adele

(Ngāti Kahungunu, Whakatohea)

Kia ora koutou,

I joined Āwhina as a mentor in 2000 when I started my MSc tracing Māori and Polynesian migration using mtDNA. I have been involved in a range of Āwhina programmes, supporting mentees, outreach to schools, pasifica events and the postgraduate seminar series. I completed my PhD in 2006 investigating heavy metal toxins in green mussels. Currently, I’m working as the Director of Fisheries at Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc in Hastings. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without Āwhina and particularly Liz Richardson. The support I have received from Āwhina staff and students over the years has been amazing and I would really encourage every Māori and Pacific science student to become a part of this group.

Errol

Tuhoe and Tapuika

Kia ora e hoa ma,

I completed my BSc in Geology in 2001 from Victoria University of Wellington. I completed my MSc honours degree on the Geology, Geochemistry, Petrology and Physical Volcanology of Hauhungatahi Volcano, Tongariro Volcanic Zone in 2004 from Victoria University of Wellington. I was awarded a Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellowship to support my studies during my Masters Thesis.

During my undergard and postgrad years at Victoria I was an Āwhina mentor. Being an Āwhina mentor really motivated me to be a positive role-model to the pupils and students I was mentoring and it was great having the support of other Āwhina mentors and staff. I was proud to be involved with Āwhina Outreach and it’s great to see some of these pupils now studying at Victoria.

Personal highlights for me would be the stay-overs at Te Herenga Waka Marae, Pasifika evenings, and the chance to attend the Inaugural Maori Academic Achievement Awards where a bunch of us got to sing our Āwhina waiata in front of the late Māori Queen, Dame Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu.

Jonnel

I completed a Master of Biomedical Science which I really enjoyed. It is, after all, the science of life. I’m specialising in infectious diseases found primarily in low income countries and researching ways to combat them. I am one of many wide-eyed science enthusiasts who have taken that extra step in becoming the astute, driven, hard-working career researcher who practises the science. Together as leading scientists who give back to our communities, we can all be the positive agents of change that we aspire to be.

Melanie

Ngāti Porou

Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi
Ko Tuwhakairiora te hapu

Tēnā koutou. My name is Melanie and I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and a Master of Science degree in Marine Biology from Victoria University. I was a Te Rōpū Āwhina Pūtaiao mentor for 3 years, including a year as a mentor for the Outreach programme at Bishop Viard College. I was also lucky enough to have a Tūāpapa Pūtaiao Māori Fellowship (TPMF) for my Masters degree.

I have been working for the Ministry of Fisheries since May 2004, and transferred to Nelson in May 2005 to work as a Customary Fisheries Facilitator. My job involves providing assistance to iwi and hapū to enable the development of their fisheries management strategies. It’s a fantastic job that combines my passion for the marine environment, and the empowerment of Tāngata Whenua.

I really enjoyed my time at Vic Uni and I value the support and encouragement I received from the Te Rōpū Āwhina Pūtaiao mentors and staff. I fully encourage all Māori and Pacific Nation Science students to get involved in Te Rōpū Āwhina Pūtaiao, either as a mentor or as a mentee. It is a great whānau network, especially if you are living away from home, and everyone is there to assist you to reach your goals and much more.

Nō reira, whaiā te iti kahurangi; ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Nathan

(Bio updated April 2011)

I'm still living in the UK with my wife Elouise, but we now have two boys: Felix (2 1/4 yrs) and Asher (7 months) which keep us very busy.

I'm still working as a qualified actuary in the insurance industry for a company called Legal & General. Work I'm doing at the moment is on Solvency II which is a new Europe-wide capital and regulatory framework all insurers have to adhere to. This means there is no shortage of work for actuaries which is good in a time when other areas of employment including the public sector are cutting back.

Work is less than a 10 minute bike ride away. This means I get to maximise my time at work and home giving me a great work life balance. My work has lots of sports facilities including a 25m pool, tennis courts, a weights pavilion, a sports hall for badminton or gym classes as well as organised events like handicap-time runs through autumn/winter, aquathons (500m swim + 5km run) in the spring/summer and also swimming clubs and galas.

Felix has just reached 0.9m tall so we can start to take him on some of the rides in nearby theme parks. So we're looking forward to lots of fun this summer!

Tanya

My name's Tanya. I graduated from Vic in Dec 2002 with a BSc majoring in Biology. I was an Āwhina Mentor in 2001 and 2002.
While I loved the theory side of science, I wasn’t too keen on all the lab work, so I did not get a job directly in the Science field when I finished my degree. I first worked as a Team Leader at a public library, followed by a stint at the Ministry of Justice as an Event Coordinator. At the end of 2006 I started working in the Fundraising department of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research – which is a nice way to finally make a little bit of use of my Science background!

Wes

Talofa lava, my name is Wes and my home-town is Porirua.  I attended Aotea College and it was during my time there that I developed an interest for science.  In 2003 I started studying at Victoria University and graduated in May this year with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science majoring in Molecular Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry. 

It was 4 years of some hard work, but at the end of it all I feel it was a good choice and a fantastic experience.  Along the way I have met some awesome people and been supported in many ways by Awhina through my first year in getting over the initial culture shock and keeping me in tune with university life and study.  In my second year I became an Awhina mentor and continued that role for 3 years.

I have been privileged to have received many scholarships that have helped me through my studies, such as the Awhina Pasifika Award, the ESR Gugumatua Science and Technology Award and the Ahuwhenua Science Scholarship.  Äwhina hooked me up with an awesome part-time job for 2 years with a government organisation called The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA).  One of my roles at ERMA was being part of a project team that transferred the tens of thousands of chemicals and substances that are in New Zealand to be covered under new legislation, The HSNO Act.   In my final year I received an Awhina Summer Research Award which gave me research experience in Victoria University’s Organic Synthesis Laboratories. 

The opportunities and support that Awhina has given me far outweigh what I could ever give back, and I have definitely been blessed to be part of Awhina whanau.  At the moment I’m taking a temporary detour from science.  I have been a Territorial Force soldier for 4 years and currently I’m doing some crazy-as training with them.

Kate (Ngati Kahungunu & Ngati Porou)

I graduated from Victoria in 2010 after completing conjoint BTeach/BSc majoring in geography and environmental science. After a full on four years of three trimester courses (plus part time jobs), I was excited to get into full time work. My degree meant I could teach years 1-13, so I had a lot of options. I decided to challenge myself and moved to Tauranga, after living in Wellington/Wairarapa my whole life. It was a great choice as I now have an awesome teaching job at an intermediate. I find encouraging my students to follow their passions and believing they can be whatever they want to be a very rewarding part of my career.

Āwhina was a huge part of me getting here. Throughout my time at it gave me a place to work, support when my Dad passed away during my second year and I introduced me to some really great people. I was a mentor in 2008-2010 and found the support I received from my own mentors a huge part of my success in reaching my goals.

Robert

I graduated in the summer of 2010 with a conjoint BSc (Mathematics, Statistics) and BCA (Econometrics, Money and Finance). I joined Āwhina in my second year at university. I was struggling with courses and finding life at university very challenging. I came to see Liz about difficulties I was having, and it was this eventful meeting which lead to me becoming whangai (adopted) to Te Rōpu Āwhina. I am not Maori or Pacific nation by blood or heritage, however I was a part of the Āwhina family. I was accepted for who I am, and who I could become. 

I spent my first year in Āwhina with Salesi as my mentor in Statistics. In my second year with my struggles firmly behind me, I became a mathematics and statistics mentor. I did not have my own set of mentees but instead was often found in the whānau room, providing assistance to anyone who needed it, which turned out to be quite a bit with Statistics! In my third year with Āwhina I joined the team working in the office. While I still remained available in the whānau room for assistance with Statistics, much of my work was now with other mentors. I would get to talk to mentors each week, and see the same smiling faces in whānau room rounds. It was a great experience to get to know the wider whānau members, and see what everyone was working on. It has been a great experience to be part of Āwhina. I have struggled through tough work, glided easily through papers, and everything in between! I found help, friendship, support and skills in the most unlikely of places and met some of the smartest and friendliest people I know.

My last summer at University I had the most amazing opportunity to work closely with Prof. Estate Khmaladze through the Summer Scholarship. This great opportunity came to me again through Āwhina. I was able to work with Estate on the most advanced Statistics I have ever studied, and through it join knowledge from seemingly unrelated papers I had studied in the past. It truly gave me the biggest lesson of all through University - that the best things are those that you can enjoy and share with others. Āwhina's 'success together' style and inclusive values work, but not only does it produce top quality graduates, it produces top quality people.

Samantha

I was raised in Rotorua and moved to Wellington to complete my Bachelor of Architecture, which is looking like it may become a Masters of Architecture! I became involved in the Āwhina whānau when my pop passed away; he was the person in our family who was interested in our heritage and in Māori and Pacific development. I decided I would like to carry this on and was pleased to discover Te Rōpū Āwhina and get involved. I find mentoring very rewarding and also enjoy the support of peers.

Lauren (Ngati Kahungunu te Wairoa)

I graduated from Victoria University in 2009 with a conjoint BCA/BSc majoring in Management and Biology. I have always been interested in the ecology side of science since high school and thought doing management would give me good business knowledge when I went job hunting.
Currently I am working at the NZ Police National Headquarters in Molesworth Street. I am a part of the National Communications Group who is constantly looking at new technology and approaches to enhance and improve Police and public emergency communication.
Awhina has offered me a lot of support whilst studying and now that I have finished I still feel like they are supporting me through Awhina Alumni.

Whare

Kia ora koutou,
Ko Whare Timu ahau,
He uri tenei na te ure whakaparati o Kahungunu,
He mokopuna na Te Huhuti, nana i kau ki te tau o tana a te ki a Te Whatuiapiti.

My name is Whare, and I am in my fifth and final year studying architecture. Ever since first year Te Rōpū Āwhina has played a massive role in my tertiary studies at Victoria. Studying architecture where there is only a small percentage of Maori and Pacific Islanders can be quite daunting. This is where Te Rōpū Āwhina is of huge help because it gives a sense of whanautanga which is an important factor for all Maori to strive and move forward. Te Rōpū Āwhina has also taught me the values in leadership and that we have the ability to be confident in whatever career choice we may pursue. I plan to take on a career cadetship with Te Puni Kokiri, which was available to me because of my involvement with Te Rōpū Āwhina.

Tracey

Kia ora kotou, my name is Tracey.  I was a student at VUW and an Āwhina mentor from 2006-2009, I also spent a year working in the whanau office.  The atmosphere and whanau support during my studies was amazing!  Not only did I have academic support, but also a new family of great friends.  I completed a BA in Geography and Anthropology and a BSc in Environmental Studies and Ecology & Biodiversity, and was also an Environmental Studies tutor.  Āwhina was an excellent support network for me throughout this busy time at university and it was a great feeling to be able to give back to such a successful and committed community of friends as a mentor.  I now live in Auckland, working as a Hazardous Substances Consultant, and am looking into postgraduate study in Kyoto, Japan. Celebrating Āwhina 's 10th birthday in 2009 was a fantastic achievement and I look forward to seeing the whanau grow even stronger in the years to come!

Anna

I hail from a small town called Manutuke, Gisborne on the East Coast.  I come from a family of 5, 1 older brother and sister and spent my first 18 years living the good life, came from a small and pretty close community and learnt heaps through my years at Manutuke School and Gisborne Girls' High School. 
I moved to the big smoke of Wellington to study Design, first time I moved out of a house let alone city but I have relished the opportunity to be independent and have come through the Interior Architecture course with a lot of skills and experiences. 
I became a mentor in my second year and have been part of Āwhina ever since, it’s been that small piece of that community at Uni which has contribute to my success.

Hannah

I'm from Queenstown and I've completed a Bachelor of Interior Architecture. I've really enjoyed my studies and hope it takes me far and around the world. I'm interested in Production Design and Set Design.
Āwhina has been great in helping me get to know a lot more students at the Faculty of Architecture and Design as well as offering support and advice on academic issues.

Paul

Ko Uruao tōku waka
o Aoraki tōku maunga
Ko Makaawhio tōku awa
Ko Waitaha rātou ko Kāti Māmoe ko Kāi Tahu ōku ko Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō ōku hapū
Nō Whakatū ki Te Tau Ihu o te Waka ahau
Ko Paul Addison tōku ingoa.
E whai ana au i te tohu paetahi e aro nui ana i te waihanga. Ka mutu taua tohu i tēnei tau (arā i te tau 2009). Ki a au nei, he pai rawa atu Te Rōpū Āwhina nā te mea e tūāpātia ana i te whakawhanaungatanga i waenganui i ngā tauira Māori. Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.

Urszula

I'm Urszula and I completed a Psychology Honours degree. My undergrad degree completed in South Africa was in Film and TV production so it's been quite a big change to start a science-focused postgraduate degree. I joined Āwhina to support myself and others, as I have seen for myself the different focus necessary to do well in a science subject. I hoped that as Āwhina mentor I convinced undergraduate students to complete their degrees even when at times it just seems too hard! 

Atilua

I graduated from Victoria in 2006 with a conjoint BSc (Computer Science) and BCA (Management and Information Systems).
I joined Āwhina in 2004 and was a mentor in 2005 and 2006.  I'm working as an IT Advisor for KPMG and really enjoying the
challenges.

When I first joined Āwhina I was lucky enough to receive two scholarships; one from UNISYS and one from Āwhina. This 
financial support really helped me with my studies.  As an Āwhina mentor my focus was first and second year computer science
students. I also talked to various groups about Āwhina and my experiences as a Pacific student in computer science at Victoria
University. There were other very cool things like Āwhina Outreach and the annual Vic Science Experience, where I showed 
secondary school pupils around the Faculty of Science. This was lots of fun and I got the chance to see what was happening in
the different science disciplines.   

Āwhina helped me build essential life and work skills and get to know the other computer science mentors who I could work with.

I'm proud to be part of Āwhina and grateful for all the help and support I received both inside and outside of study.

Clarissa

I became an Āwhina mentor in 2005, as a 2nd year Biomedical Sciences student. A highlight of my first year in Āwhina was being an Outreach mentor at Mana College, where I assisted Year 10 students in their practical science labs. At the end of the year, Āwhina offered me a summer studentship where I worked for Dr John Miller on peloruside, an anti-cancer drug. My experience led
to me gaining fixed-term positions as a research assistant for Dr Miller and as a lab technician at ESR, where I worked on the Meningococcal vaccine study. The following summer, Dr Miller obtained funding from the Cancer Society for me to continue research on peloruside. After graduating with my degree in Biomedical Science, I became a research officer in the Infectious Diseases group at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. I am currently conducting a multi-centre strain surveillance study on the rotavirus and have recently begun working on tuberculosis. Āwhina has provided me with opportunities that lead me to where I am today.
Three of my mentees have gone on to do studentships as well, and I know this will give them an advantage towards their future careers in science, as it has for me.

(Carrone and daughter Skye)

Carrone

(Ngai Tahu and Ngati Porou)

I am a born and bred Wellingtonian and ex-Rongotai College pupil. Getting a tertiary degree was the most challenging thing I have done in my life and one of the most rewarding.

I have a BSc in ecology and biodiversity and applied statistics. I've always been keen on sports and all through my degree I kept up my involvement in softball and canoe polo. Things got pretty busy when my daughter Skye was born in my second year of study!

Being part of Āwhina whanau helped me see the importance of education and contributing to Māori and Pacific development through sharing knowledge. As an Āwhina mentor I was surrounded by like-minded, positive people every day. Now I'm in the workforce I want to continue to put something back to our communities by mentoring Māori and Pacific pupils.

Veronica

I got my BSc in 2003 and my MSc in 2006 from Victoria University, both in Ecology & Biodiversity.  For my masters thesis I studied how introduced bees affected the ecology and evolution of our native flax, and in 2005 (with a lot of help from Awhina!) I was a recipient of a Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellowship. 

I am currently applying for jobs in the field of plant ecology and my interests are in plant reproductive biology, evolutionary ecology, and more recently speciation. 

I have enjoyed being involved with Awhina throughout my university life, particularly as a postgraduate.  The people involved in Awhina have given me, and continue to give me, support and confidence, and provided a sense of family away from home.

Alistair

I enjoyed being actively involved in Āwhina during my postgraduate years at Victoria University. I was able to provide
mathematical and statistical support to Āwhina students. Āwhina is an excellent resource for Māori and Pacific Island
students.

I completed a MSc (in Statistics) at Victoria University of Wellington in 2000. My thesis looked at a method of earthquake
prediction. I subsequently moved to the University of Sydney and completed a PhD in mathematical biology in the School
of Mathematics and Statistics in 2006. I worked at The University of Melbourne in 2006 as a post-doctoral research fellow
in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, where I conducted a statistical analysis of cell migrations during embryo
development.

I am now working as a post-doctoral research fellow in Biostatistics at the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney,
and at Westmead Children’s Hospital (both in Sydney). I study kidney disease and kidney transplantation. Having a cancer
before kidney failure means a patient is less likely to receive a transplant and consequently has worse survival prospects after
transplantation. I am working on a project that assesses the associated risks of a history of cancer on potential transplant
patients. In the future, I would like to look at kidney failure within Aboriginal, Māori and Pacific Island patients.

Kiri

Kiri, Lee and Tyler and (latest addition) beautiful Ariana. Āwhina mentors from 1999 will remember Tyler as a tiny preschooler.
He's now as tall as Kiri and another success story in the making.
Photo courtesy of Lee's Mum

BSc 2000, BHB 2002, MBChB 2005

Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa
Ko Maungatautari te maunga
Ko Ohau te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Tukorehe te marae
Ko Ngati Tukorege te hapu
Ko Ngati Raukawa me Ngati Porou nga iwi
Ko Kiriana Bird toku ingoa

I lived most of my childhood in Wellington - Wainuiomata. My teenage years were spent mostly in the Hawkes Bay. I attended
Hato Hohepa - a Māori girls Catholic boarding school for my secondary school years and thorougly enjoyed my time there. Soon
after the end of my seventh form year I had a son to my now long term partner, Lee. We were determined to continue on with
our tertiary education despite being young, Māori and now new parents.

We moved to Wellington and when our son was 15 months I started my BSc. I became involved with Te Ropu Āwhina Putaiao in
my second year where I became a mentor for Māori and Pacific students. This involved making contact with them and having
tutorials as they required. It allowed a senior and junior student relationship to begin which was mutually beneficial. It provided
a friendly face from a similar background culturally within a mainstream enviroment.

I finished my time at Victoria University in the year 2000 after completing my BSc. I applied to Auckland School of Medicine and
along with my whanau we moved to Auckland that year to start my medical studies.

Throughout my time at med school I was involved a lot with MAPAS (a similar ropu to Āwhina). After 5 years of hard work I
graduated from Med school in 2005 and began working at Auckland Hospital as a junior doctor.

Due to lifestyle reasons my whanau and I have moved back to the Hawkes Bay to settle in 2007. I am currently working at Hastings
Hospital in Obstetrics and Gynecology, our son is 10 years old and we are expecting our second baby soon.

Te Ropu Āwhina provided me with a whanau support network whom I could lean on throughout my time at Victoria University. A ropu
with a focus of manaakitanga and aroha that is often lacking in a large institute.

I would like to acknowledge Liz Richardson whom I met back when I started with Te Ropu Āwhina. Without her ongoing committment,
hard work and enthusiasm, this Ropu would not be where it is today - and from the website I can see it has grown stronger.

I have to say that it would not have been possible to write this story if it were not for the never ending support of both of our families.

Eli

Ngati Hikitanga (Horowhenua)

I completed a BSC (Hons) in 1999 in Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, from Victoria University of Wellington.

I completed my PhD in Developmental Neurobiology in 2004, again from Victoria University of Wellington.

I now work at the University of Melbourne, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.

I work as a research scientist. I am interested in unraveling the exact molecular mechanisms for how the nervous system is hard wired over development. I use the fruit fly (Drosophila) embryo as a model organism to understand the genetic control of these processes over development. My work involves, grant writing, experimental design, carrying out those experiments with the help of research assistants, data analysis, and communication of that data (results) in peer reviewed scientific articles and conferences. My job affords me a great deal of intellectual freedom and the University is an extremely stimulating place to work.  Recently I have begun teaching both graduate honours students and undergraduate medical students, which I find highly rewarding.

During my graduate years at Victoria University of Wellington I was actively involved in Awhina. I was one of the founding mentors in of Awhina in 1999 and also took part in the first out reach programs to Mana College and Bishop Viard in the Porirua area. Not only was I able to offer support and guidance to undergraduates and secondary school students, but I also received a great deal of support from my fellow awhina mentors.

Namouta

BSC (Hons) Geography, Victoria University, 2001
BA Anthropology, Victoria University, 2000

I am a Senior Planner with Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner and have had over 5 years experience in the planning field, involved in projects in New Zealand and the Pacific.

My role is Job Manager and I have had the opportunity to practice strategic planning on structure plan projects, a number of coastal strategies and a town centre strategy.  I have also undertaken demographic analyses for several Councils and the Ministry of Education.  I have ongoing involvement in assisting the Government of Samoa to develop Coastal Infrastructure Asset Management Plans for the country and have undertaken an environmental impact assessment in Fiji to establish an affordable housing precinct.  More recently, my work in Tangata Whenua planning was recognized by the New Zealand Planning Institute with the 2007 Award of Merit for the Mana Whenua Mana Moana Paper developed in conjunction with the Mana Whenua Reference Group and the New Plymouth District Council.

My policy experience is based on developing and processing a number of resource consent applications (including the assessment of environmental effects, undertaking relevant consultation and a statutory assessment), and designations throughout the north island for State highways, schools, fire stations, camp grounds, apartments and carparks.

I grew up in Wellington before moving to Hamilton and now live in Tauranga.
I am happily married and a keen netball player who loves the movies!

Tara
Te Arawa

The majority of Māori and Pacific students I have seen come through the Faculty of Architecture and Design are the first within
their (often extended) families to go to university. I include myself in this group. Āwhina brings students like us together, with
lectures and mentors so we are able to help ourselves and each other to succeed at university.

Shiro (Tuhoe)

I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher and now I am a science teacher. I worked as a Teacher Aide for 2 years before beginning my study. I was apprehensive and anxious because I had been out of school for a while and had a 2 year old daughter. Also being away from my family was hard.

Luckily Āwhina was there to provide me with the support I needed to achieve the goals that I had set for myself. Āwhina is excellent because it introduces you to peers who are doing the same courses and who are focused on academic success. Having the whānau rooms was really helpful because we had a place to study with peers and we didn’t have to queue for computers!

Tiri

Ngāi Tahu / Ngāti Kahungunu

I completed a B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics at VUW back in 98. I was a mentor within Tangata Whenua and later in the Te Roopu Awhina Putaiao programmes in Maths and Science. I went on to do some Astrophysics research, including a couple of observing runs at the Mauna Kea Observatory in the USA. In 2001 I changed direction and started a full-time career with Statistics New Zealand.

I have enjoyed my 5 years at Statistics NZ and the supportive Māori Network where 3 other members were also mentors in Te Roopu Awhina. I reckon that my training in Maths and Science has given me a broad range of job options and that Victoria University was a key part of the equation that the awhi and tautoko helped me to get through.