Māori at AUT

Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau – AUT plays a critical role in shaping Aotearoa New Zealand, and has undergone a transformational journey towards aligning with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

In this section you can see stories of our staff and students at AUT, and discover the positive impact our work is making across Aotearoa.

News from AUT’s Māori whānau

@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.

Winners from AUT Law School posing for picture.

Top prizes for AUT Māori law students

Law

Two AUT law students took out the top awards at the recent Hui-ā-Tauira, an inaugural event run by Tūmatakahuki | National Māori Law Students' Association.

"Whaea” Ella’s professorial lecture

Business

“Whaea” Ella Henry, AUT Business School’s inaugural Professor of Māori and Indigenous Entrepreneurship, delivered a lecture filled with wairua...

Meet some of our Māori students

Keegan Pook

Ngāti Whātua

Achieving great outcomes for patients makes the job rewarding, says sports podiatrist Keegan Pook who has worked extensively with elite New Zealand sports teams.

Ashlee Tulloch

Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Tuwharetoa

The energy at the Olympics is electric and addictive, says Ashlee Tulloch whose broadcasting career has seen her working for organisations like olympics.com.

Wairua Taru Grant Pukeiti

He wanted a career where he can make a difference to his people, says Wairua Taru Grant Pukeiti who studied criminology, Māori development and law at AUT.

Alex Tawharu

Ngāti Raukawa

Her passion for storytelling has deep roots, says Alex Tawharu who studied advertising and public relations, and now works as a copywriter at Bastion Shine.

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.

Kennedy Caton

She loves seeing 2D become 3D, says Kennedy Caton who is now a site engineer for Dominion Constructors and helps to bring construction projects to life.

Tseard Theo van der Mei

Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Dutch

He loves having a role in professional sport, says Tseard Theo van der Mei who works as an assistant sport scientist for the Auckland FC.

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).

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.

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.

Longo Matangi

Ngā Rauru, Tongan

She loves making a positive difference to Māori and Pacific communities, says Longo Matangi who completed a Bachelor of Health Science in Health Management in mid-2024.

Jasmine Amohia

Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpāparangi, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Maru, Cambodian, Indian

Aviation is an everlastingly interesting industry, says Jasmine Amohia who is now part of Air New Zealand’s popular digital graduate programme.

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.

Gloria Rapoto

Te Rarawa

Working in the District Court inspired her to study law, says Gloria Rapoto who graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in mid-2024.

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.

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The gateway to AUT: our marae

Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae can be hired for community use. Located on the City Campus, it welcomes the diverse cultures at AUT.

Our marae: Ngā Wai o Horotiu

Te Pou Māori - Māori Student Support

Te Pou Māori are a kaupapa driven support service dedicated to walking alongside ākonga Māori throughout their journey at AUT.

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:

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.

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 works closely with AUT Māori staff, students and the wider community in advising 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.

Download our Whānau Guide

Read more about what it’s like to study at AUT, get practical information about what to expect from university study and hear from other Māori students at AUT.

Download brochure

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