Maori and Pacific Island Committee

"Kaua e rangiruatia te ha o te hoe; e kore to tatou waka e u ki uta"
Do not lift the paddle out of unison or our canoe will never reach the shore.

• Kia ora, Welcome
• The Maori and Pacific Island (MPI) Committee
• Institutional linkages
• Understanding culture

Kia ora, Welcome

The Directors of AIS St Helens recognise the Treaty of Waitangi, and implement policies, procedures and practices that foster bi-cultural relationships and understanding of Maori and Pacific Island communities.

AIS St Helens also recognises that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed to protect the interests of Maori. It is therefore appropriate to reduce inequalities in education, and that opportunities are available for our Maori and Pacific Island peoples to be able to benefit themselves.

The Maori and Pacific Island (MPI) Committee is committed to promoting culture in recognition of Manakitanga and Whanaungatanga. This committment ensures that education opportunities are available to Maori and Pacific Island peoples through a marketing thrust, including magazine print media, both Maori and Pacific Island radio air waves, and bringing to you keynote guest speakers from within our Maori and Pacific Island groups to share with us their pathways to success.

I take this opportunity to welcome you one and all to our Whanau Community. Tena Koutou, Tena Koutou, Tena Koutou Katoa.
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The Maori and Pacific Island (MPI) Committee

The MPI committee supports Maori and Pacific Island students at AIS St Helens. We are committed to increasing the number of MPI students in education and to helping those students currently studying.

MPI Committee members organise cultural events and whanau (family and friends) evenings. They also participate in community events, attend careers expos, and visit schools, families and churches.

Members of the MPI Committee include:

Dr Semisi Taumoepeau - Head of Hospitality, Tourism and Arts Programmes
Semisi is of Tongan descent and has a PhD (USC), Bachelor of Science (Auckland) and a Master of Science (Surrey). Semisi's doctoral thesis was on the economic sustainability of South Pacific airlines. Semisi has been working in the Tourism Industry for over 25 years in Tonga, and in the South Pacific. It was through prolonged commitment and support from his family that he got to this level, with passion for helping Pacific Islanders in all spheres of life. "Polynesian students are talented just like any other tertiary student group in New Zealand, but managing time is more crucial in our society and we should make a special effort at all times to allocate the resources we have wisely."

Semisi says the job demand for graduates in tourism, whether it is a certificate, diploma or degree qualification, is huge in New Zealand, with about 17,000 trained employees required annually by the industry. (ATTTO and Ministry of Tourism conducted this study last year). "Opportunities for MPI students are indeed huge and varied. Tourism in New Zealand is now a main economic activity, and you should be part of this growth industry, not only here, but in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole."

Kasanita Holani - Marketing Executive (Domestic)
Kasanita deals directly with MPI students, meets family, and helps with student enrolments and recruitments.

Institutional linkages

Gaining an education opens the door to many opportunities. If you choose to become a student at AIS St Helens, you choose an exciting journey. AIS St Helens has agreements with many tertiary institutions in New Zealand and overseas.

One popular institution that current MPI graduates may wish to consider attending is Brigham Young University - Hawaii. This unique university offers students an academic and cultural experience. Students participate in the university's Polynesian Cultural Centre and gain a qualification. For further information about this, see the Academic Director, Mike Roberts miker@ais.ac.nz.

Understanding culture

The kaupapa (theme) of the MPI Committee is that the most important consideration of all is the maintenance, sustenance, development, growth, and nurturing of iwi Maori. That is to say, as an educational institution we believe one of our missions is to maximise educational opportunities for Maori and Pacific Island peoples.

Studying in New Zealand will give you the unique opportunity to experience Maori culture. Words such as haka, hongi and hangi may or may not be familiar to you, but at AIS St Helens you may experience all three.

A haka is a Maori challenge war dance made famous internationally by the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team. A hongi is the pressing of noses used when greeting someone. A hangi is a delicious meal similar to a roast, but cooked in the ground with heated stones.

However, experiencing Maori culture is much more than a haka, hongi and hangi. Welcoming guests and visitors with a powhiri (traditional welcome) is also an important occasion. A karakia (prayer), waiata (songs) and kai (food) are often part of this event.

For students interested in finding out more about Maori culture and the Treaty of Waitangi, a booklet entitled "Tihei Mauri Ora - A Guide to Te Marae Customs, Protocols and The Treaty of Waitangi" has been produced and is available from the AIS St Helens library at the Main Campus.