Putting the future of Ngāpuhi firmly in the hands of our young people

Ngāpuhi is welcoming Te Marewa o Tautoru (‘the ascent of Orion’s Belt), an agreement with Te Herenga Waka (Victoria University of Wellington) and the Māori Education Trust (MET), to assist Ngāpuhi students in their pursuit of higher education.

Chairman of Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-Ō-Ngāpuhi (TRAION), Wane Wharerau says Te Marewa o Tautoru will support even more tauira of Ngāpuhi to thrive.

Through its annual education scholarship scheme, TRAION currently awards up to $100,000 a year to Ngāpuhi descendants studying in NCEA levels through to PhD across the motu.

“Te Marewa o Tautoru inputs additional funds from Te Herenga Waka and Māori Education Trust so we can support even more students in tertiary study through our annual education scholarship scheme,” says Wharerau.

“These kinds of relationships put the future of Ngāpuhi firmly in the hands of our young people.

“Education is a key driver to our future.”

That driver led TRAION to sign an MOU, known as Tuhono, with Te Herenga Waka in 2016 to forge a relationship in education to benefit Ngāpuhi.

This MOU (known as Tuhono) has seen 34 Ngāpuhi students supported in their studies at Te Herenga Waka over the past six years.  Ngāpuhi descendants make up the largest cohort of Māori students at Te Herenga Waka, something TRAION is proud of.

“We acknowledge Te Herenga Waka for their support so far, which runs well into the thousands of dollars for our tauira studying in Wellington,” says Wharerau.

This year, TRAION’s scholarship committee received 275 scholarship applications for higher education; 80 of those were successful and a total of $96,500.00 awarded in education scholarships to tertiary providers across the country.

Te Marewa o Tautoru will be implemented in time for the 2021/2022 scholarship round.

Wharerau says, “our people want opportunity, this is one way we can help our people access the opportunities they are seeking.”

“TRAION wants to work with the crown for better educational outcomes for Ngāpuhi descendants.”

From left; Phoebe Davis (TRAION), Bronwyn Yates (MET), Puawai Woodman (Head Girl, Northland College), Wane Wharerau (TRAION), Hone Sadler, Cecilia Tuiomanufili (Te Herenga Waka), Hirini Tau, Sam Napia (TRAION).

THE NAMING OF MAREWA O TAUTORU

Hone Sadler, former lecturer at The University of Auckland and kaumātua at TRAION named the agreement, Te Marewa o Tautoru. It comes from an incarnation recited by renowned tūpuna and navigator; “Ka marewa Atutahi, ka rere Tautoru, whakamau atu ahau ki a Pātarikaihau. Ka korowhiti te marama he paewhenua. Ka whiti auē, ko Aotea, ko Aotea, ko Aotea.”

“As Atutahi rises, so does Tautoru, I fix my gaze to Pātari-kai-hau. The moon crosses over the horizon. As we cross, it is Aotea, it is Aotea, it is Aotea.”