NorthTec - Te Pūkenga hold rangitāmiro ceremony
NorthTec’s Te Puna o Te Mātauranga marae was the venue for a special ceremony signifying the bringing together of NorthTec and Te Pūkenga and recognising the depth of local relationships and whakapapa with hapū and iwi in Te Tai Tokerau.
Members of Te Pūkenga Ohu Reo me ngā Tikanga were present along with members of mana whenua and senior Māori staff from NorthTec to witness the event and guide the proceedings.
A toki (symbol of courage, power and authority) was presented to NorthTec by Te Pūkenga during the ceremony. It is one of 17 made by Waikato-based carvers in and was set aside specifically for NorthTec Tai Tokerau Wānanga. The toki was presented to NorthTec by Layelin Stewart (Te Pūkenga Mātauranga Māori and Ohu Reo me Ngā Tikanga member) and accepted by Kelly-Anne Panapa (Director Māori Success and Equity, NorthTec).
“The names of the toki are derived from an ancient karakia whakatō mauri, or an incantation used to infuse ethos into an object, the very karakia where Te Pūkenga sourced its name,” said Layelin Stewart. “The toki presented to NorthTec is named Te Orooro.”
The toki is a symbol of the collective mana, mauri (life force), ihopūmanawa (talent or strength) and pūkenga (skills) between NorthTec and Te Pukenga; it is the vessel that the collective mauri is instilled in, together as one.
Toa Faneva, Executive Director for NorthTec - Te Pūkenga, said: “Many thanks to Layelin Stewart, Amomai Pihama, and Haki Keogh from Te Pūkenga for joining us at this important and symbolic occasion.
“Thanks also to our hapū and iwi representatives who gave their support, including Sam Napia, CEO of Ngāpuhi, and the members of the Ngāpuhi Board; Kiri Sloane-Hobson, representing Te Kahu o Taonui, the Tai Tokerau Iwi Leaders Forum; and Kipa Munro, from Te Runanga o Ngāti Rēhia, who is also our campus manager for Te Pou o Manako (Kerikeri campus).
“We appreciate your kōrero about the importance of cherishing our NorthTec kaimahi as we move into Te Pūkenga, and never forgetting that our people are both the engine room that keep the NorthTec ship moving forward, and the folk who support, inspire, and lead our ākonga throughout their learning journey.”
