About Ao-tuhi

“Aotahi Whetū Tārake Ki Te Rangi”

Kei ngā whetū tārake kua karapinepine mai nei, tēnā rā koutou katoa.

We are Aotahi: School of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Canterbury. We strive to contribute to the regeneration of mana motuhake. The students we graduate will have been inspired, provoked and challenged to be strong in māturanga Māori and embody the futures making audacity of Māui Tikitiki a Taranga.  Our research will forge pathways for new frontiers of self determination to be realised.  The knowledge and know-how our communities need to realise their visions for the future is our reason for being. 

The Aotuhi blog gives us an opportunity to talk about the 360 degrees of Māori reality – from rugby league, to politics, to the wisdom of our elders. These kōrero weave together the patterns that intersect these realities and give them voice.

Ao-take – here we take the many current issues which often enrage and infuriate us and examine their implications for te ao Māori

Ao-tutuki – this is the world of solutions, highlighting mahi that is happening now to advance the aspirations of Iwi Māori

Ao-taki – look here for longer, more considered philosophical writing drawn from a Māui thought paradigm

Ao-tāua – all our mahi is grounded in the wisdom and lived experience of our elders – here we can learn from some of that knowledge. Featuring our administrator Karen Murphy.

Flagship initiatives:

Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadershipa highly successful, professional, applied programme for mid-career Māori that aims to accelerate, amplify and enrich their ability to implement the aspirations of their community.  Taught through wānanga across the country and an international hīkoi to Indigenous nations in North America, the programme builds a network of emerging Māori leaders with skills and the courage to imagine bold futures.

Master of Te Reo Māori   – dedicated to our language flourishing, this programme aims to catalyse the number, quality and diversity of works produced in te reo Māori including  compositions, plays, poetry, digital works, journalism and beyond.  The core programme involves wānanga with producers of te reo Māori works and the creation of original works that can contribute to building a personal portfolio.  Graduates of Te Panekiretanga are able to credit 3 courses, enabling completion of the programme within 12 months.

Māui Lab – creating next generation solutions for Te Ao Māori, the Māui Lab connects undergraduate and postgraduate students with projects within our communities to give them real world experience and contribute to our communities having extra capability to achieve their aspirations.

Check out our crew and contact details here. Follow us on Twitter @AotahiUC or Facebook @StudyAtAotahiUC.