Hunganui brings community together to reflect and look ahead

_{Associate Director Māori Success Tate Tiatia addresses the Hunganui gathering}

Ara’s hāpori (community) gathered at Te Puna Wānaka this week for Hunganui, an annual event for reflection and the setting of future aspirations.

The whakataukī (proverb) setting intention for this year’s gathering was: Me tū pērā i te tōtara, me rere pērā i te manu (Stand strong and grounded like the tōtara, be free and agile like the bird).

Ara’s Associate Director Māori Success Tate Tiatia said Hunganui had become an essential way to report back and reflect collectively on progress towards whānau transformation through education.

"Last year we asked our community what had worked well and what was needed from us going forward," she said. "This event is our opportunity to share what we heard, what we've acted on, what is still in motion and where we're heading next."

The audience responded warmly to the latest Māori learner retention and completion results, which highlighted the positive impact of the collective effort being made across Ara and its communities.

According to data just released by the Tertiary Education Commission, Ara achieved the highest Māori first-year retention and Māori course completion results in the institute of technology and polytechnic sector.

Tiatia said she had been humbled by the progress made across the organisation.

"The latest results confirm that more Māori learners are continuing their studies and successfully completing their courses at Ara, but they also challenge us to keep building on that momentum."

Speaking on behalf of Te Kāhui Manukura (Ara’s leadership team), Executive Director Academic, Innovation and Research Deborah Young reflected on the progress made over the past 12 months and the collective responsibility to continue creating opportunities for Māori learners.

“These achievements are a testament to the aspiration and hard work of our learners, their whanau and the commitment of our kaimahi to create an environment where Māori can flourish and succeed as Māori,” she said.

"We continue to be guided by Monte Ohia's vision of whānau transformation through education and by our shared aspiration to achieve equitable outcomes for Māori learners."

Poster displays and video highlights screened in the whare showcased the work of the Māori Success team since the event was last held. Opportunities for feedback also generated words of praise as well as new ideas for the future.

Tiatia acknowledged the role of key partners noting the 15th anniversary of the He Toki Māori trades training initiative in Ōtautahi and from Pūhoro STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Mātauranga Māori) Academy’s 10th anniversary in Aotearoa.

A further highlight of the gathering was hearing from partners whose whakaaro (intentions) continue to align with and strengthen Ara's work.

Dr Eruera Tarena of Tokona Te Raki reflected on the progress of Ara's significant Whiria Te Muka Tangata journey which aims to help embed Treaty of Waitangi commitments into the organisation’s systems, structures, practices and decision-making.

After 18 months of research, engagement, prototype development and testing, the programme is now moving into its next phase, with recommendations helping shape future planning and priorities across the organisation.

Pūhoro’s Te Urunga Tū (Southern Regions) manager Leland Ruwhiu joined Ara Community and Outreach Partner Hineamaru Paraone to reflect on how partnership can help rangatahi realise their aspirations.

Looking ahead, Tiatia said the challenge was to ensure Māori success continued to be understood as a shared responsibility across the organisation.

"We have focused on bringing vitality to all of our kaupapa,” she said.
"Our role is to help make the kaupapa clear enough, practical enough and visible enough so that every part of Ara can see its place in achieving Māori success outcomes. That is how we move from intention to collective responsibility."

As Ara's Matariki celebrations draw to a close, Hunganui remains an opportunity to honour shared achievements, strengthen relationships and look ahead to the next chapter of whānau transformation through education.