He mihi tēnei ki te huka tākata i pari ihu atu kia tutuki i te mahi o kā tau ko hori atu kia kawea kā Kaupapa Māori o te whare wānaka nei. Kai te mihi, kai, te mihi, kai te mihi.
After nearly two decades of advancing the aspirations of Māori at the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the Office of Māori Development (OMD) is entering a new chapter.
Established in 2007 following the University's Māori Strategic Framework, OMD helped provide centralised leadership for Māori development and significant cultural support, normalising te ao Māori on campus.
Now, as the University moves towards a new institutional approach through Te Kaha Uia Te Kaha – The Mana-to-Mana Agreement alongside the 2040 Vision and Pae Tata Strategic Plan, the University farewells the office as a stand-alone entity, with staff now working in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori under Te Pou Tiriti leadership.
Te Pou Tiriti Dr Megan Pōtiki says it’s important to acknowledge the legacy of OMD as the University moves into a new phase of Māori development.
“From a tikanga Māori position, it is important that we acknowledge the past and walk into the future with that. Therefore, I acknowledge the whakapapa of OMD, the leadership, the people and the mahi that was done with aroha and mana over the many years.”
She says the role of Pou Tiriti is not a replacement of the Office but a shift in direction focused on advancing the Mana-to-Mana agreement with mana whenua.
“E rere atu te tai o aroha, te tai o mihi ki te mahi, ki te takata o te Kaupapa rā, ka huri.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, Jacinta Ruru (Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui), says OMD has, for many years, played a pivotal role in embedding Māori development and strengthening Te Tiriti relationships across the institution.
“OMD have built strong foundations for us all to now build upon as we collectively set sail, as Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, towards new horizons,” Jacinta says.
“It’s a massive privilege to draw on the principle of kōtahitaka, to sit together in unity and shared purpose as we continue to work at pace to realise the opportunities before us and to whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi.”
OMD’s founding director was Dr Darryn Russell (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha), followed by Tuari Potiki (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha), who held the role for a decade between 2012-2022. OMD has also benefited from significant Māori coming in as acting directors, including Janine Kapa (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha), Donna Matahaere (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Te Ātiawa), and Rhonda Bryant (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi).
Hata Temo (Tūhoe) has played a valuable role in OMD since 2016, along with Rhonda Bryant, Karin Fraser (Ngāti Porou, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Hine), Kiritea Smith (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pukenga, Tainui), and Maioha Watson (Waikato, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Mutunga) who are all now working closely with Dr Megan Pōtiki in her role as Te Pou Tiriti and other staff in the Deputy Vice Chancellor Māori office.
Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson says OMD has played a significant role in shaping the University’s Māori development journey.
“OMD has played an enormously significant role in the development of Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. I want to acknowledge and sincerely thank every staff member for their contribution and support to the kaupapa,” Grant says
“Our next steps in our Te Tiriti led journey will be stronger for all that has gone before in OMD’s mahi”.