Hurihia ki te Awatea Tawaroa, pictured second from left, was supported by her whānau at Te Heika Pounamu (Māori pre-graduation) on Friday. "Having my whānau and their support in anything I do has been a major part of my life," she says.
He mokopuna au nō te awa o Whanganui. He uri tenei hoki nō Ngāti Pikiao, heoi anō i whānau mai, i tipū ake au i Murihiku, i raro i nga parirau o te manu tītī. Nā reira, ka tika me mihi au ki nga iwi o te whenua – ko Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha hoki.
I am a descendant of the Whanganui River. I am also of Ngāti Pikiao, yet I was born and raised in Murihiku, beneath the wings of the tītī bird. And so, it is only right that I acknowledge the many iwi of this whenua – Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, and Waitaha.
Hurihia ki te Awatea Tawaroa
One of the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka’s most recent graduates Hurihia ki te Awatea Tawaroa has worked alongside others throughout her studies to advocate for whānau ora and suicide prevention initiatives that centre Māori voices and tikanga.
Born and raised in Southland, Hurihia ki te Awatea grew up surrounded by whānau and strong community connections.
The local Maataa Waka marae (a marae for all people regardless of iwi affiliation), Ngā Hau E Wha ki Murihiku, provided a place for her to stay connected to her whakapapa ties to Whanganui and Rotorua.
Hurihia ki te Awatea moved to Ōtepoti in 2020 to study at the University of Otago, where she has recently completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Māori Studies.
Outside of her studies, Hurihia ki te Awatea has served her community as a rangatahi ambassador for Maranga Mai Te Waipounamu, a platform associated with the Centre of Māori Suicide Prevention.
“My inspiration for this mahi comes from knowing that our rangatahi deserve spaces where they feel seen, heard, and valued – and more than this – is the knowledge that our rangatahi really do have some cool ideas about what change looks like and how different it could look from what it is now! It is all about championing rangatahi and allowing our whānau to believe that they can trust us with the future, because we are already living through it!
She says that studying at Otago has taught her how to critically navigate complex legal, political, and social systems, systems that often feel inaccessible to many Māori communities.
“My studies at Otago have given me the tools to translate knowledge into action, to advocate for change, amplify Māori voices, and help others engage with these structures in ways that uphold their mana. It’s shaped me into someone who not only moves within these spaces but works to open doors for those who come after me,” Hurihia ki te Awatea says.
“The Māori Centre was of course a huge source of support for me. I remember especially in my first couple years leaning on the Māori Centre not only for academic guidance but also a safe and affirming space to connect with other tauira Māori.
“I’m deeply passionate about kaupapa that uplift Māori, particularly rangatahi voices, mental health, whānau ora and the realisation of tino rangatiratanga. I’m also interested in how law and policy can be reshaped to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and empower our marginalised and underserved communities.”
“Everyone in my whānau moved to Dunedin to support my younger sister and I in our academic journey at Otago. This has been a major part of my life – the importance of knowing I am being supported by my whānau and community in anything I do.
“When it was time for me to attend kohanga reo, my parents came with me to be my kaiako. Moving into my time at kura, my Pāpā came to teach. Our whānau have moved as a unit all throughout my life and it only made sense that they moved with us to university too.
“I joke with my whānau and say ‘geez overbearing much’ but that is a lie, and I know that in anything I want to do in life, if I have my whānau and their support, I know I can make it happen.”
Pushed by a strong sense of purpose, Hurihia ki te Awatea wants to create meaningful change for Māori communities.
“I plan to remain in Ōtepoti to complete my Professional Legal Studies (Profs) alongside job opportunities where I can work to combine law, policy and community advocacy. For who I am in this space and time, and with the knowledge I have gained from my academic experience at Otago, I want to explore how and what I can to contribute to, in the context of our hāpori and the development of Māori wellbeing, wherever that may be in Aotearoa.
– Kōrero by Māori Communications Adviser Brigham Riwai-Couch
Information for Māori future students
The University of Otago is well known for the amount of support its staff offers tauira Māori who enrol to study here. There are a range of services, support people, resources and groups that contribute to a successful experience for Māori students and, ultimately, their personal and academic development.
Find out more