51萝莉

Dr  (Ng膩ti Maniapoto) graduated from the 51萝莉 with her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in M膩ori and Indigenous Studies in October 2023.

It was a special moment for the University Library鈥檚 Pou 膧rahi (Cultural Lead) who, as an 18-year-old from Waitomo, never thought university life was for her.

Since then, she has not only completed a bachelor鈥檚, master's and now PhD degree, but has contributed to important MBIE-funded research and led transformative change in the library.

鈥淭he common thread on all the work I do is around te reo M膩ori and m膩tauranga M膩ori,鈥� says Hurihia, who began working in the library in October 2022.

Climate change's negative impact on the ocean

Her PhD thesis, supervised by Dr  looked at the impact of climate change on the ocean from the perspective of contemporary waka voyagers.

It was part of a five-year Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) funded project called the  involving 54 experts from 14 national and international organisations.

Hurihia contributed to the 鈥楬e Papa Moana鈥� component of the project, led by Waikato Professor .

For her research, she interviewed seven navigators trained in traditional ocean navigation, some with 30 years鈥� experience, and asked them to share their observations and perspectives on climate change impacts.

鈥淭he big notable one that they all talked about was cyclones,鈥� says Hurihia.

Global warming is raising the temperatures of the ocean, which fuels cyclonic activity. Where cyclones previously ran out of steam in the Southern Ocean, we are now getting an increased frequency and intensity of cyclones in our oceans further south. This is the biggest threat to voyaging.

The research also revealed observed decline of marine species relied on for navigation 鈥� including whales, dolphins, fish and migratory birds.

鈥淭his decline is not solely due to climate change, but a whole range of human activities such as overfishing and pollution, but it is concerning.鈥�

Journey to university

Hurihia was the first in her wh膩nau to come to university. As a 14-year-old high school student at 艑torohanga College, she started working at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and didn鈥檛 imagine a different career for herself outside tourism or farming.

鈥淚 could have been very happy working there for the rest of my days.鈥�

Her father, Tim, had other ideas and, when she was still working at the iSite the February after high school had finished, he asked her what her plans were for the year.

鈥淚 said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know, I鈥檒l just keep going to work like usual.鈥�

鈥淗e said, 鈥榞et in the car, we are going to go to the University鈥�,鈥� recalls Hurihia.

鈥淗e saw something in me that perhaps I didn鈥檛 see in myself.鈥�

It was on that first day visiting the Hamilton campus that Hurihia and her father bumped into Dr Tuaupiki, a relative and longstanding mentor of Hurihia鈥檚 from their waka trust in K膩whia.

鈥淚t was really important that I saw him that day because he was a familiar face, and it made me think that University was a place I could feel at home in. He encouraged me to enrol, and made it a more welcoming process.鈥�

At the time, the four-storey library seemed huge, and the campus seemed like a small town. Later, it would be where she would work, making a significant contribution to transforming the culture of the University.

Supportive environment 

She enrolled in the Certificate of University Preparation (CUP) programme to help her transition to tertiary study, as she was a few credits short of University Entrance.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 that I didn鈥檛 have the skills, I just hadn鈥檛 prepared in high school as never thought university was for me. CUP was a good introduction. I made good connections with other students 鈥� we all supported each other.鈥�

She went on to get her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with first class honours in Te Reo M膩ori, a Master of Arts with first class honours in Tikanga M膩ori, followed by a PhD in M膩ori and Indigenous Studies.

They were subjects I was really passionate about and enjoyed.

She credits the support she received from the Faculty of M膩ori and Indigenous Studies, and Dr Tuaupiki in particular, who encouraged her each step of the way.

鈥淚t鈥檚 because of him I did my master鈥檚 and PhD 鈥� he mentored me through my academic journey.鈥�

Leading change at the library

Hurihia has been working as Pou 膧rahi at the University library since October 2022, working closely with various teams.

鈥淚n my role, I lead the library鈥檚 commitment to biculturalism and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, embedding m膩tauranga M膩ori into library processes and services. I am also leading our work on the Te Aurei objectives including the University's goal to become an anti-racist institution.鈥�

The enthusiasm staff have shown for developing their knowledge in te reo M膩ori and tikanga M膩ori has impressed Hurihia.

鈥淭he staff are really keen,鈥� says Hurihia, acknowledging the passion and mahi already underway before she started by library management and colleagues. 鈥淎s soon as I got here, people asked if we could do regular waiata practices, and asked if I could teach them a mihi if they were speaking at a conference. So, they were really hungry [for knowledge] and it was really encouraging to see that.鈥�

鈥淚 really enjoy the space and the people 鈥� the people here [at the University library] are just great!鈥�

She spoke about her work on K墨ngitanga Day to University staff and students.

"M膩tauranga M膩ori is my superpower. Twenty years ago, people thought te reo M膩ori would get you nowhere, but it鈥檚 the edge I have, and it is valued more now.鈥�

She encourages others to use their knowledge, skills and connections to change systems that disadvantage others and to strive to make the world a better place, with less inequity.

鈥淚 like being the one breaking barriers, that makes me quite proud.鈥�