Dr Megan Pōtiki (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe Waitaha, Te Ātiawa) has been appointed to lead relationships with mana whenua for the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
Ko kopoua a Tākuta Megan Pōtiki (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe Waitaha, Te Ātiawa) ki te ārahi i kā honoka ki te mana whenua mā te Whare Wānaka – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
The new role, Te Pou Tiriti, was established to oversee the University's Te Kaha Uia Te Kaha – Mana-to-Mana Agreement and relationships with other iwi, hapū and Māori entities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
I whakamanahia te tūraka hou, Te Pou Tiriti, ki te kōkiri i tā te Whare Wānaka kawenata, i Te Kaha Uia Te Kaha, me kā honoka ki ētahi atu iwi, hapū me kā kāhui Māori puta noa i Aotearoa.
It will be an integral part of the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and the Senior Leadership Team.
Ka tū hai pou matua mō te Tari o te Pou Koko Māori me te Tira Whakahaere Matua.
Dr Pōtiki is excited about the opportunities the role brings.
E hiamo ana a Tākuta Pōtiki i kā āheika ka mahuta ake i te tūraka.
"It's an inaugural journey that I get to be a part of and weave the tapestry of tikanga, te reo and strategy into the University. Importantly, it's a pivotal role that allows us to work with mana whenua to create a Treaty-led future at Otago University.
"He tuatahitaka o tēnei momo e whai wāhi ai ahau, e raraka ai hoki ahau i te kanorautaka o tikaka, o te reo me rautaki ki roto i te Whare Wānaka. Mātua rā, he tūraka whakahirahira e āhei ai mātau ki te mahi tahi me te mana whenua ki te waihaka i te anamata e ārahitia ana e te Tiriti ki Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
"It's also full circle for me personally as I get to come back to the place that launched my love for tertiary education and mātauraka Māori," she says.
"Ko te hokika mai tēnei, mōhoku ake, i a au ka āhei ki te hoki mai ki te wāhi nāna tōhoku aroha ki te mātauraka paetoru me te mātauraka Māori i whakakipakipa," tāhana kī.
Dr Pōtiki has a significant background in tertiary education as a teacher, lecturer and leader. Most recently she has been Executive Director at the Otago Polytechnic and has had roles at Te Pukenga and mana whenua-owned consultancy Aukaha Ltd. She is a passionate advocate for her whānau, hapū and iwi and has a strong research interest in te reo Māori.
Inā te whānui o ō Tākuta Pōtiki wheako i te rākai mātauraka paetoru, kaiako mai, pūkeka mai, kaiārahi mai hoki. Nō nā tata tou nei mahi ai ia hai Kaiuruki Matua ki Te Kura Matatini ki Ōtākou, ā, ko whai tūraka hoki ki Te Pukenga me te umaka whakahaere a te mana whenua, me Aukaha Ltd. He kākau titikaha ia mō tōhona whānau, hapū me tōhona iwi, ka mutu, he taikaha tōhona aroka rakahau ki te reo Māori.
Chancellor Trish Oakley is delighted to have someone of Megan's standing appointed to the role.
E hari ana Te Tumu Mātāmua a Trish Oakley i te kopoutaka o te momo i a Megan ki te tūraka.
"This is another step in the University's journey to becoming Te Tiriti-led.
"He hātepe anō tēnei i tō te Whare Wānaka haereka kia ārahitia e Te Tiriti.
"The signing of the Mana-to-Mana agreement last year, our strategic direction outlined in Pae Tata and Vision 2040, and now Megan's appointment provides solid foundations towards an enduring relationship between the University and mana whenua," she says.
"Ko te hainataka o te kawenata Te Kaha Uia Te Kaha i tērā tau, ko tā mātau rautaki whakahaere i tāia rā i Pae Tata me Vision 2040, otirā, ināianei, ko te kopoutaka o Megan, he tūāpapa pakari ki te honoka mauroa i waeka i te Whare Wānaka me te mana whenua," tāhana kī.
Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson sees the goals and ambitions of the University and mana whenua aligning.
Kai te kite Te Tumu Whakarae a Grant Robertson i te hākai haeretaka o kā whāika me kā awhero o te Whare Wānaka me te mana whenua.
"They enable and enhance each other, creating intergenerational opportunities for mana whenua to succeed and flourish.
"Ka hāpai, ka whakapakari hoki rāua i a rāua anō; ko te hua, ko te whanaketaka o kā āheika ā-whakareaka kia akitu ai, kia puāwai ai hoki te mana whenua.
"Megan, along with the University's senior leaders, will play a vital role in leading the realisation of these aspirations, especially as we strive to become a Te Tiriti-led university.
"He whai wāhitaka nui tō Megan me kā rakatira matua o te Whare Wānaka ki te ārahi i te whakatinanataka o ēnei wawata, otirā i a mātau ka takakawe kia ārahitia te whare wānaka e te Tiriti.
"I very much look forward to seeing what we can achieve all together."
"E tino hīkaka ana ahau ki te kite he aha ka pahawa i a tātau katoa."
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori Professor Jacinta Ruru (Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui) is thrilled with the appointment.
E tino harikoa ana Te Pou Koko Māori a Ahoraki Jacinta Ruru (Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui) i te kopoutaka.
"Megan brings with her extraordinary skills into this significant new role. We are fortunate she is returning to Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka at this time in the history of the University as we enter this new era of working with and alongside mana whenua for higher education aspirations."
"Ka kawe mai a Megan i kā autaia pūkeka ki tēnei tūraka whakahirahira hou. E marikanui ana mātau e hoki mai ana ia ki Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka i tēnei wā o te hītori o te Whare Wānaka, i a mātau ka kuhu ki tēnei ao hou o te mahi tahi me te pokohiwi tahi ki te mana whenua mō kā awhero mātauraka teitei te take."
Te Kāhui Kāwanataka, the University governance group overseeing Te Kaha Uia Te Kaha, sees Dr Pōtiki's appointment as another step in the strengthening of the relationship between Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka and mana whenua.
Ki tā Te Kāhui Kāwanataka, te rōpū kāwanataka o te Whare Wānaka e kōkiri ana i Te Kaha Uia Te Kaha, ko te kopoutaka o Tākuta Pōtiki tētahi anō hātepe ki te whakapakari i te honoka i waeka i a Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka me te mana whenua.
Co-Chair Nadia Wesley-Smith (Kāti Taoka, Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki) says the Pou Tiriti role "stands as an expression of our shared commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi".
E ai ki te Heamana Takirua, ki a Nadia Wesley-Smith (Kāti Taoka, Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki), ko te tūraka Pou Tiriti "he whakatinanataka o tō tātau kākau tapatahitaka ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi".
"Megan brings strong innate knowledge of the priorities of mana whenua, and with her experience and background, is well placed to deliver on our shared commitment to Te Tiriti."
"Ka kawe mai a Megan i kā mātauraka taketake taikaha mō kā hiahia o te mana whenua, ā, i te āhua tou o ōhona wheako me ōhona mōhiotaka, e āhei pai ana ki te whakatūturu i tō tātau kākau tapatahitaka ki Te Tiriti."
