Where to go if you’re UC Māori

Entrance of the Macmillan Brown library on campus. Source: University of Canterbury.

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha is home to many different spaces, facilities, and support services for all ākonga. However, as a Māori ākonga, I did not realise until my second year of university that UC was home to safe spaces and support systems for Māori students. This is one of the first things I wish I had known in my first year, as utilising these facilities really helped me during my second year of study.

Here is an outline of where to go at UC if you’re Māori, Pasifika, or Tauiwi.

Te Ao Mārama building

Location: Arts Road, next to the Forestry building connected to the Macmillan Brown library.

Te Ao Mārama is a hub for Māori and Indigenous Studies, Te Reo, and support for Māori and Pasifika ākonga.

The building is home too:

-       Te Waka Pākākano: Office for Māori, Pacific and Equity.

-       UC Māori, who provide academic, financial, or social support for ākonga Māori.

-       Aotahi: School of Māori and Indigenous Studies. This includes Te Reo Māori courses.

-       The Pacific development team, who provide support, opportunities, programmes, and events for UC Pasifika students.

-       Kā Waimearo: Ngāi Tahu Centre.

Te Ao Mārama is the place go if you need to visit any of these departments or use any of these services.

Te Ao Mārama is my go-to building for studying on campus, and the place I go when I have a break between lectures. The foyer is set up with tables and couches for study, and you are basically guaranteed to find a spot to work at. It is also ideal if you are taking a Māori and Indigenous Studies paper, or a Te Reo paper, as the foyer is next to the department. Therefore, you’re likely to run into your lecturer or tutor if you need help.

Te Puna Rakahau o Macmillan Brown (Macmillan Brown Library)

Location: Arts Road, connected to Te Ao Mārama

Te Puna Rakahau o Macmillian Brown is host to cultural heritage collections, such as Te Ao Māori, Pacific, Aotearoa history, rare books, and art collections.

It is the perfect place to go if you are looking for a relaxed and quiet study environment or looking for some help with specific courses such as Māori and Indigenous Studies or Pasifika Studies.

Facilities include study desks, reading and study tables, discussion rooms, a photocopier, a printer, and access to computers.

They have an amazing team that can help you source material for your assignments or your research. If you’re taking a Māori and Indigenous Studies paper, I would highly recommend getting help from the librarians if you need it or if you have the time to. I once went in needing to find one book for my MAOR107 course and came out with a list of resources – for not just my MAOR107 paper, but also my MAOR212 paper. It was extremely helpful and gave me the resources I needed to feel comfortable about my assignment.

Although you can’t eat in the library, there is a beautiful outdoor space you can go to eat your lunch or take a break from study. It is also connected to Te Ao Mārama, so you can go into that building to eat.

Te Whare Ākonga o Te Akatoki

Location: 129 Ilam Road, next to University Hall and Ilam Fields

Te Whare Ākonga o Te Akatoki, also known as The Whare, is an important space for Māori ākonga to study, relax and meet other Māori ākonga who are studying at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha. The Whare has study rooms, meeting spaces, a computer room, shower facilities, and a kitchen where students are welcome to cook.

Te Whare Ākonga o Te Akatoki is home to Te Akatoki which is the Māori student association. They run events and offer additional support to Māori ākonga. Anyone who has identified themselves as Māori are automatically enrolled as a member of Te Akatoki, so if you are wanting to become involved within Te Akatoki you should go to The Whare and check them out. They’re a nice and welcoming group.

Te Whare Ākonga o Te Akatoki is a safe space where Māori ākonga are free to be authentically Māori. I would heavily advise any UC Māori to go over and check it out.

Māori ākonga can apply to UC Security for access to The Whare during the academic year. It is also important to note that before using the building, you should check the ‘conditions of use’ information found on the Te Whare Ākonga o Te Akatoki page found on the university website.