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

Schools Partnership Programme launched

AUT recently launched itsSchools Partnership Programme, Iti kōpara to provide pathways to higher education for priority Māori and Pasifika learners.

The flap over DEI: woke, or just awake?

Business

Ella Henry says she is happy to be called “woke”, because it means she is wide awake, aware of efforts to increase social injustice and racial disha...

AUT builds on the success of Te Aronui Framework

AUT has built upon the success of its groundbreaking Te Aronui framework with the appointment of Professor Meihana Durie in a new role, Te Toi Aronui.

Auspicious start to inaugural law course

Law

Dean of AUT Law School, Ahorangi Professor Khylee Quince welcomed nearly 300 students to the first lecture on tikanga Māori and Aotearoa NZ’s legal system...

Meet some of our Māori students

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.

Maia Hemara-Tylden

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rangi

She wanted to develop the skills to support her people, says Maia Hemara-Tylden who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Māori Development with a minor in Education.

Emma Hetaraka

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wharara

She has always been interested in showcasing Māori culture on the big screen, says Emma Hetaraka who is studying Māori media, Māori development and te reo Māori.

Ella Cook

Ngāti Ruanui, Taranaki Iwi, Ngāpuhi

She has enjoyed how industry focused AUT is, says Ella Cook who completed a Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design and is now enrolled in a Master of Design.

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.

Kalen Chase

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāphui, Taranaki Tuturu

Teaching has always been a passion of his, says Bachelor of Education alumnus Kalen Chase who now works as a teacher at Manurewa Intermediate School.

Hannah Cartman

Ngāpuhi, Fijian

Hannah Cartman may have only finished her sport management degree a few years ago, but she has already had the chance to work with two very different national sporting bodies.

Georgia Breeze

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui

Her dream is to work as a chef on a superyacht one day, says Georgia Breeze who is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts with a minor in Te Reo Māori.

Alexandra Cooper

Ngāti Porou

Nursing is a career where you can truly make a difference in people’s lives, says Alexandra Cooper who is in the final year of her Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing).

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.

Kathy O’Carroll

Te Atiawa, Waitara

For Kathy O’Carroll, her passion for working with the Deaf community started more than 20 years ago and eventually led her to AUT’s Bachelor of Arts.

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.

Nikkolas Diehl

Te Rarawa

Every day is a fun learning experience, says Nikkolas Diehl who now works at Masterspec, New Zealand's leading provider of digital construction information.

Monique Oyagawa

Ngāi Tahu, Samoan, Japanese, European

There have been many pinch-me moments since she joined Remix Magazine in 2021 as part of her AUT business workplace experience, says Monique Oyagawa.

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.

View all

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

Tautoko: Support for Māori students

Pou Māori – Māori Centre is an iwi Māori-focused support service that partners with ākonga Māori to provide support.

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

FIND YOUR GREATNESS

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

Follow us on social media

You can follow us on our social media channels.