Māori at AUT

Your story matters here. Your whakapapa, your dreams, your drive. At AUT, we’re changing what university can be for Māori – with tautoko grounded in mātauranga Māori, research that moves Aotearoa forward and partnerships that honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This is where your future takes shape, with your people behind you.

News from AUT’s Māori whānau

Emotional landscape of language revival

Communication studies

Receptive bilingualism was at the heart of Te Ipukarea researchers Dr Nogiata Tukimata & Dr Toiroa Williams presentation at PULiiMA 2025.

Showcasing Māori research in Te Reo

Te Ara Poutama: Māori and indigenous development

The Ngā Hua a Tāne-te-Wānanga held during AUT’s Research Week – Te Wiki Rangahau showcased Māori Research in te reo Māori.

@AUTMAORI a creative force

Te Ara Poutama: Māori and indigenous development

The desire to make te reo Māori seen and heard drives the team behind the successful @AUTMAORI Instagram page to post as often as they can.

Launch of the online “Dictionary of the Māori Language of Rarotonga” at Te Ipukarea Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, for Cook Islands Language Week

Launch of Online Rarotongan Dictionary

Language and culture

Te Ipukarea Research Institute has partnered with the Cook Islands Language project to launch an online dictionary for Cook Island Māori.

Meet some of our Māori students

Te Rangi Ataahua Eruera-Watts

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Marutūāhu, Ngāti Porou

She wants to be part of changing the way healthcare is delivered, says Te Rangi Ataahua Eruera-Watts who is studying a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing).

Skye Lunson-Storey

Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Pākehā

Connecting with others about their practice is what she is enjoying most about studying visual arts, says Skye Lunson-Storey who is in the final year of her degree.

Kahlen Gray

Samoa, Ngai Tūhoe

She felt nervous about starting university, says Kahlen Gray who began her AUT journey by with UniPrep before starting her Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching).

Tohu Wairua Aroha Harris

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whakatohea

She chose to study visual arts because she is an artist at heart, says Tohu Wairua Aroha Harris who is completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts Te Tohu Paetahi mō Toi Ataata.

Briar Leith

Ngāti Kahungunu

International relations have always fascinated her, says Briar Leith who studied a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a minor in Public Relations.

Ella Rea-Rankin

Ngāti Maniapoto

She has a particular interest in developing her knowledge of child psychology, says Ella Rea-Rankin who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Children and Learning.

Kenza Taele

Samoan, New Zealand European, Ngāi Tahu

She has long been interested in sport physiotherapy, says Kenza Taele, a passionate netballer and Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) student.

Amber Butt

Ngāpuhi, Pakistani, English

Designing a campaign when she was in high school inspired her, says Amber Butt who is currently studying a Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa.

Te Awanui A Rangi Teresa Clark

Ngāpuhi

When she was growing up, animation was her biggest form of comfort, says Te Awanui A Rangi Teresa Clark who is now studying animation, VFX and game design.

Louis Hartley

Te Atiawa (Taranaki)

He loves that it’s his job to be informed, says Louis Hartley who studied a degree in public relations and now works for GRC Partners + Porter Novelli.

Riku Aupouri

Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Ngāti Wāhia

Deciding to study sport and recreation stems from his passion for physical activity, says Riku Aupouri who is now studying a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation.

Phoenix Petelo

Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Samoa

From a young age he has been deeply fascinated by the core sciences, says Phoenix Petelo who is studying a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biological Science.

Ashley Groves

Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi

What she loves most about her role is connecting with others and represent the business in meaningful ways, says Ashley Groves who works at Fletcher Building.

Kataraina Anneff

Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahinerangi, Ngāti Tumutumu, Ngāti Tamaterā

She loves telling the stories that matter to Māori communities, says Māori media alumna Kataraina Anneff who is now a digital producer for TVNZ’s Te Karere.

Daniel Ruwangalegedara

Sri Lankan, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou

Being able to gain practical skills and work on industry projects is what he enjoyed most about his studies, says engineering alumnus Daniel Ruwangalegedara.

View all

The gateway to AUT: our marae

Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae sits at the heart of our City Campus. It's a space for our community - and available for hire for cultural events and gatherings

Our marae: Ngā Wai o Horotiu

Te Pou Māori - Māori Student Support

Te Pou Māori supports you throughout your AUT journey. Our kaupapa-driven approach walks alongside Māori students with care rooted in mātauranga Māori.

Māori student support

Māori research and faculty groups at AUT

You can find Maori research projects and teaching across AUT, including the following research and faculty groups:

Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae is a whānau, cultural and spiritual centre, located on the City Campus

Inside AUT’s Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae

Our staff are passionate about seeing students succeed

Students outside Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae

Te Ara Poutama’s Professor Paul Moon is widely recognised as an expert on Treaty of Waitangi related issues

Te Ara Poutama’s Professor Paul Moon is widely recognised as an expert on Te Tiriti o Waitangi related issues

Office of Māori Advancement

The Office of Māori Advancement champions Māori success at AUT - supporting our students and staff, working with the wider community and implementing Mātauranga Māori kaupapa throughout AUT.

AUT’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau – AUT has undergone a transformational journey towards aligning with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. As a Crown entity, AUT has a duty to actively promote and protect Tiriti rights and develop education settings that reflect Māori-Crown relationships.

Eke Tangaroa: programme for Māori and Pacific early career academics

Eke Tangaroa is a unique programme designed to increase the number of Māori and Pacific academics at AUT by appointing early career academics and supporting them to establish research-active academic careers.

Follow us on social media

You can follow us on our social media channels.