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

From village to screen: Telling the story of marine conservation in Tonga

Te Ara Poutama: Māori and indigenous development

A team of Indigenous filmmakers is co-creating documentaries about community-managed marine areas with villages in Tonga.

WIPCE 2025 recognised at NZEA awards

Te Ara Poutama: Māori and indigenous development

WIPCE 2025 has won Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Event of the Year at the NZEA New Zealand Event Awards 2026.

Saving the art of Tukutuku

Two AUT research networks have joined forces to help save the traditional Māori art of tukutuku.

Artwork to inspire kaitiakitanga

Art and design

This year’s Matariki art, commissioned by Te Pou Māori at AUT, features work by Bachelor of Design student Breana-Ann K...

Meet some of our Māori students

Jamie Kora

Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Whakatohea, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki

Her studies have strengthened both her lived experience and professional practice, says Jamie Kora who is studying a Graduate Certificate in Health Science.

Macauley Cunningham

Te Aupōuri

Deciding to study computing was easy, says Macauley Cunningham who completed a Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Software Development.

Ulima Tofi

Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tufulele, Vaipuna

His time at AUT shaped his passion for Māori and Pacific communities, says Ulima Tofi who completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) and a Master of Health Practice.

Tiana Poliko

Samoa, Ngāpuhi

Engineering is the perfect combination of math, physics and problem solving, says Tiana Poliko who is now in studying civil construction engineering.

Lily French

Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Hauiti, Muaūpoko

She chose to study marine and biological science because she has always been interested in the natural environment and the world around her, says Lily French.

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.

Arana Rakena

Ngāpuhi

What he loves most about teaching is that he can contribute to the local rōpū and iwi, says Arana Rakena who now works as a teacher at Rosmini College.

Hana Pera Aoake

Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Hinerangi, Waikato/Tainui

Her PhD is an opportunity to work with new materials and challenge herself, says Hana Pera Aoake, whose studies are supported by an AUT Vice-Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarship.

Ella Rea-Rankin

Ngāti Maniapoto

She had 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.

Dominic Bravenboer

Ngāi Tahu

For his Master of Philosophy, Dominic Bravenboer is exploring whether changes in fish behaviour could be an early warning sign of coral reef degradation.

Chris Anderson

Ngāti Rangitihi

When he stepped into AUT’s School of Art and Design, he knew this was a place where he could thrive, says Chris Anderson who is studying industrial design.

Jasmine Fuemana

Ngāruahine, Niue

For Jasmine Fuemana, being able to work with professional sports teams while she was still a student was a highlight of her time studying sport at AUT.

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.

Alysha Clark

She loves working with tāngata whaiora of all ages, says Alysha Clark who is a nurse practitioner at Manurewa Healthcare, a South Auckland general practice.

Kayla Newman

Ngātiwai

She has always loved being creative and hands-on, says Kayla Newman who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design, followed by a Master of Design.

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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:

Scholarships for Māori students

The Te Aronui Scholarships support Māori students in master’s by research, doctoral or professional doctorate programmes (research component only). Each scholarship covers domestic tuition fees, the compulsory student services fee and includes a NZ$34,737 stipend for 2025 awards.

Application details

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.

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