‘Kia Puawai Rangatira Ngāti Whātua’
Growing Ngāti Whātua leaders

The Ngāti Whātua Tertiary Summit is an aspirational education event which brings together Ngāti Whātua secondary students, alumni and leaders to advance Ngāti Whātua. Organiser and Ngāti Whātua manager Antony Thompson explains “there is a serious gap in the support for Rangatahi in all facets of education, we are doing something about that. This event adds to the existing programmes and initiatives Ngāti Whātua offer”.

The event will acknowledge and celebrate current and emerging Ngāti Whātua leaders providing an opportunity for Ngāti Whātua Rangatahi, who are about to go engage in higher education, to connect with them.

This series of workshops will include; Māori Leadership, Law, Business, Health, Education, Art and Environmental Studies. Key Ngāti Whātua, who are leaders in their field, will run the workshops giving their reflections and insights on their chosen vocations. An evening function will involve high performing aspirational Ngāti Whātua leaders from different backgrounds and across a number disciplines acting as Kaiakotupuranga (peer support) to Rangatahi. “We have brought together business leaders, lawyers, health professionals, artists, media and engineers; we have covered as many areas as possible,” says Mr Thompson.

Janell Dymus from the Ngāti Whātua Māori Public Health explains “Kaiakotupuranga will mix and mingle with Rangatahi during the evening event to make connections and lift aspirations by talking to them about their learning journey and career goals. They will network with Rangatahi explain what they do and how they got to where they are today.” The dinner is an integral part of the summit as it opens the door for many Rangatahi who are unsure about what to do after high school.

The Ngāti Whātua Tertiary Summit starts on Thursday afternoon at Orākei Marae with the workshops and dinner on Friday at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). It concludes with the AUT and University of Auckland open days this Saturday from 9am. The event is supported by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, Whai Māia Orakei and AUT.

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