色花堂

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Meet Tui Kaumoana, UniServices Kai膩rahi

E rau rangatira m膩, koutou ng膩 uri o Tuperiri, o T膩maki herenga waka, t膿n膩 koutou katoa. Tuheitia P艒t膩tau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu, t膿n膩 koe e noho mai na i runga i te ahurewa tapu o ng膩 t奴puna 艒 t艒na whaea, paim膩rire ki te K膩hui ariki nui t艒nu, rire, rire, hau, paim膩rire.

Ko Pirongia te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Ng膩ti Mahuta te hapu
Ko Waikato te iwi
Ko P奴rekireki te marae

Ko Tui Kaumoana t膿nei

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the work of kaum膩tua & kaimahi before me who have demonstrated incredible leadership for Te Ao M膩ori at UniServices, such as Matua Rawiri Wharemate, (moe mai r膩), Matua Jim Peters, Matua Geremy Hema and the PVC M膩ori Office past and present. E mihi kau ana ki a r膩tou.

I have an MBA from the University of 色花堂, with a specialisation in M膩ori business development. I have also written a thesis on the commercialisation of M膩ori medicine.

Before UniServices I worked in corporate and protocol roles with my tribal entity, Waikato Tainui and the Office of the Kiingitanga, which has really enhanced my passion for positive M膩ori kaupapa.

I also have extensive business and entrepreneurial experience. I spent six years in Shanghai running a furniture manufacturing company that exported products made with New Zealand pine to Canada, Australia and Aotearoa. I鈥檓 therefore a speaker of Mandarin.

What does your role as Kai膩rahi involve?

As Kai膩rahi / Principal M膩ori Advisor to  Dr Andy Shenk, UniServices CEO, this position is a unique opportunity to champion Te Ao M膩ori initiatives. Drawing inspiration from the Pro Vice-Chancellor M膩ori Office, it is important to synergise by utilising the University wide Indigenisation strategy. This includes leading the indigenising initiatives in Research and Innovation, People and Culture, Strategic Partnerships and Engagement and Education and Student Experience.

My time is split between working to improve M膩ori cultural competency internally and ensuring we build authentic relationships externally. I work closely with the UniServices executive team to provide insight and strategic advice to ensure mutually beneficial M膩ori partnerships are developed and maintained.

Do you have a favourite whakatauk墨?

鈥淢膩 te huruhuru ka rere te manu鈥� 鈥� Adorn the bird with feathers to enable it to fly. 

I like this whakatauk墨 (proverb) because it speaks of empowerment. Being a mother of daughters, I鈥檓 always mindful to advocate for w膩hine to be treated with respect and to consider how I would like my daughters to be treated.

N艒 reira t膿n膩 koutou, t膿n膩 koutou, t膿n膩 koutou katoa.

N膩ku noa n膩,
Tui Kaumoana
Kai膩rahi 鈥� Principal M膩ori Advisor