He aha Te Rōpū Pūtaiao?
I whakapūmautia Te Ropū Pūtaiao (TRP) hei tautoko i ngā tauira māori i roto i ngā kaupapa o te pūtaiao. Ko te whakatākanga o TRP ko te akiaki, ko te whakakipakipa i ngā tauira māori o te pūtaiao, ki roto i te whare wānanga tae noa ki te whānui tanga o te taiao pūtaiao.
What is Te Rōpū Pūtaiao?
Te Rōpū Pūtaiao ( TRP ) was established to support māori students in science. TRP 's mission? To encourage and motivate excellence amongst Māori sciences students within the University and the wider science environment.
Mission statement
Through whakawhanaungatanga, tautoko and kotahitanga, we strive to strengthen the presence and voice of Māori science tauira by supporting the development of culturally safe learning environments and promoting the integration of Indigenous knowledge into scientific dialogue and discovery.
How to get involved?
Follow us on Instagram: @teropu.putaiao
Email trp.maoriscience@otago.ac.nz
Meet the Executive
Tumuaki – President
Malindi Reihana-Ruka
Ko Puhanga Tohora tōku maunga
Ko Hokianga tōku moana
Ko Taheke tōku awa
Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua tōku waka
Ko Ngāpuhi tōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Pakau tōku hapū
Ko Mahuri tōku marae
Ko Reihana-Ruka tōku whānau
Ko Malindi Reihana-Ruka tōku ingoa
Kia ora my name is Malindi and I am the Tumuaki for TRP this year! I’m really excited to collaborate with our awesome team and do everything we can to make this year the best possible experience for tauira. What I’m most looking forward to is connecting with more students, building engagement, and working alongside this incredible team to make it all happen!
Tumuaki Tuarua – Vice-President
Te Arikirangi Paekau
He uri tēnei nō ngā wai o Whaingaroa, nō Waikato.
He māreikura nō ngā hapū o Ngāti Māhanga, Ngāti Mahuta me Ngāti Kahungunu anō hoki.
Tēnā rā tātou kātoa. Ko Te Arikirangi Paekau tōku īngoa.
Kia ora, my name is Te Arikirangi and I am the Vice President of Te Rōpū Pūtaiao for 2025. I'm excited for the year and look forward to connecting with many of our tauira through the events and kaupapa we have planned.
Kaitiaki Pūtea – Treasurer
Te Ākauroa Jacob
Taku ararā ko Tūrongo i wawaea ki te Tairāwhiti. Ko Māhinaarangi, ko te rua rā i moe ai a Raukawa. He kāwai tautika mai ki ahau! Raukawa ki runga, Raukawa ki te tonga!
Kia ora. I’m Te Ākauroa (aka Te Aks) and I’m the kaitiaki pūtea for TRP this year. I’m eager to support tauira pūtaiao and their whare tapawhā through awesome kaupapa, kai and whakawhanaungatanga so that we have a great year!
Kaituhi – Secretary
Mckenzie Pepere
He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Porou, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Rangi, o Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki anō hoki Tēnā tātou, ko Mckenzie Pepere tōku ingoa.
I am the Kaituhi (secretary) for Te Rōpū Pūtaiao 2025. I am looking forward to strengthening the support system for our Māori science students alongside the rest of our team.
Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa – Events Officer
Pania Pari
Kia ora! Nau mai haere mai ki Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka! Ko Pania tōku ingoa. No Whanganui ahau, e rere kau mai te awa nui, mai i te kahui maunga, ko au te awa ko te awa ko au!
I’m TRP ’s Kaiwhakahaere for 2025 and I study a BSc majoring in SPEX physical health, activity and education. Have a good year e te whānau! No doubt I'll see you around. Mauri ora!
Kaiwhakahaere – General Officer
Alyssa Harding
Ko Tākitimu tōku mauka
Ko Waiau tōku awa
Ko Te waewae tōku moana
Ko Tākitimu tōku Waka
Ko Kāi Tahu rātou, ko kāti māmoe, ko waitaha ōku iwi
Nō Murihiku mātou ko tōku whānau
Ko Alyssa tōku ingoa
Kia ora! My name is Alyssa, and my goal is to make a difference in our fellow tauira lives by providing support and moments for us all to connect. I can't wait for these moments and am so excited to be a part of this team!
Kaiwhakahaere Tāura – Postgraduate Officer
Imogen McNeill
Ko Ruapehu te maunga
Ko Whanganui te awa
Ko Aotea te waka
Ko Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi te iwi
Ko Ngāti Ruaka te hapū
Ko Rānana te marae
Ko Imogen McNeill tōku ingoa
Kia ora koutou! My name is Imogen and I'm the postgrad rep on TRP ! I'm currently studying chemistry honours and my project involves natural products in kānuka leaves. I'm looking forward to connecting with postgrad tauira and also helping undergrad tauira learn more about postgrad studies.