Tuākana
Tuākana is a community that provides mentoring for undergraduate Māori and Pacific students.
Tuākana Arts
Tuākana mentors are high-achieving Māori and Pacific Arts students, dedicated to offering academic support to fellow Māori and Pacific students throughout their undergraduate experience.
Tuākana Arts aims to ensure excellence in Māori and Pacific cultural practice at the University so that our teaching is more culturally responsive and constructive for our students. Connecting through Workshops and TUIA (Drop-in) Hours, Tuākana Mentors utilise the best practices in Māori and Pacific teaching to help their teina reach their potential and building lasting relationships within the Faculty of Arts and Education’s Māori and Pacific community.
What do we provide?
We offer wānanga, workshops, mentoring, and many other services for our teina. We connect Māori and Pacific students with academic teaching staff, clubs, associations and community groups, pastoral care services and key people across the University.
Become a Tuākana Mentor
If you are interested in helping your fellow Māori and Pacific students through their journey at University by becoming a Tuākana Mentor, submit an expression of interest to get involved.
Note: Students are welcome to submit an Expression of Interest throughout the semester. Any submissions received less than 3 weeks before the semester starts will be put on file and considered for the following semester.
Contact
Email: tuakanaarts@uoa.auckland.ac.nz or artsengagement@auckland.ac.nz
Tuākana - creative arts
Our team of senior mana moana students (tuākana) are dedicated to supporting you (teina) to enhance success during your studies.
We organise academic drop-in sessions with kai, regular workshops within your discipline, and assignment/examination wānanga to aid you in your studies. We have shared kai and kōrero throughout the year to foster whakawhanaungatanga within the faculty.
Meet Evelina Lolesi, Tuākana Coordinator
“Kia ora and Talofa Lava! I’m Evelina Lolesi, the Tuākana Coordinator for Creative Arts and Industries. I am also studying towards a Master of Architecture (Professional) and Heritage Conservation. I love to approach my architecture work from a Moana-nui perspective, using my Samoan heritage as inspiration for my projects.
“As someone raised and currently living in Manurewa, South Auckland, I understand the importance of supporting our Māori and Pasifika communities. With my role as a Tuākana Coordinator, I aim to support and guide you towards success at university.”
Tuākana Manaakitanga
Tuākana Manaakitanga provides financial assistance for our students who are facing hardship or need support, and can help link to the broader University community.
Events
We hold a range of events for Māori and Pacific students throughout the year, from noho marae to wānanga to cultural celebrations.
Contact
If you have questions about the Tuākana Programme, then please feel free to get in touch with our Student Support and Engagement Team.
Email: cai-sce@auckland.ac.nz