Mātauranga Māori Programme Celebrates Students’ Graduation

Mātauranga Māori Programme Celebrates Students’ Graduation

A unique masters degree in Mātauranga Māori that is offered in partnership between Te Wānanga o Raukawa and the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development, will celebrate the graduation of its first intake of students later this month.

Students of the Tāhuhu Mātauranga Māori programme will graduate on December 14 at Te Wānanga o Raukawa campus in Ōtaki. The graduation comes on the back of a record year for Te Wānanga o Raukawa, with its highest number of masters’ graduates completing degrees in 2013.

“We’re privileged to be part of the Tāhuhu Mātauranga Māori programme, and are exceptionally proudof the achievements of our students,” said Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai, Academic Director of the Waikato- Tainui College for Research and Development.

“Our partnership with Te Wānanga o Raukawa in delivering the programme has allowed us tocontribute and continue to support the growth of more of our people in the field of Mātauranga Māori."

The programme has been offered by the College since 2012 and eight students from the first intake will graduate with the Tāhuhu Mātauranga Māori.

“Tāhuhu Mātauranga Māori enables graduates to be grounded in iwi and traditional knowledge as well as become potential caretakers for and creators of new Mātauranga Māori,” said Te Wānanga o Raukawa senior lecturer Pakake Winiata.

“Our graduates are from diverse fields and backgrounds but for many of them, Mātauranga Māori is an integral component to the work they undertake. So it was important that this programme was both relevant and applicable."

The Tāhuhu Mātauranga Māori programme provides students with the necessary skills to better understand traditional knowledge and histories and their place within the contemporary Māori environment, said Dr Tiakiwai.

The ceremony will be held Saturday 14 December from 9.30am - 4pm at Te Wānanga o Raukawa,

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