Te Iwitoa Kruger-Taylor

"I applied for accommodation and stayed in the Waiparūrū halls and I felt at home. It also gave me the chance to meet people from different places. I met a bunch of amazing individuals and eventually connected with the Māori Association Club at UoA (Ngā Tauira Māori). They helped me find like-minded people, and I felt very supported and comfortable. They remain my whānau to this day. "

"Moving to Auckland sounded a bit daunting to my ears, but it was a great decision. I grew up around Tikanga Tūhoe, Tikanga Maniapoto. Te Reo Māori is my first language, and throughout my journey at the university, English was the biggest challenge for me. I attended kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa and wharekura before going on to a mainstream school. From there, I wanted to excel more, so I made the big move and attended The University of Auckland."

"I took Finance because I wanted to excel in my weaknesses. I love numbers, but numbers sometimes don’t love me. I thought I would prove myself and everyone else wrong to be great at numbers. It was hard, but I didn’t care if I wasn’t good; I went out of my way to make myself stronger. I liked the in-person classes and worked harder in those settings. In my opinion, having weaknesses is good because it motivates you to want to learn. I was interested in marketing, as it provided some interesting theory and practical learning. In my third year, I took a digital marketing course, which allowed me to partner with Samsung for the semester, which was cool and very different."

"I currently work at PwC as an analyst, working in the Equity Consulting department. It is right up my alley as it involves working with Māori across Aotearoa. Before this, I had only worked at my dad’s gas station, so the transition to PwC was a massive jump. My priority was to feel supported as I entered a new environment, which is why this role is perfect for me. 

"We have numerous meetings, write business plans, proposals, and reports, engage with iwi, create stakeholder maps, and much more. University helped me prepare for these types of tasks by teaching me how to manage multiple projects, think critically, and approach challenges with a structured mindset."

"Ngā Tauira Māori referred me to Te Mana Pakihi, and I got to be part of the great association! We are similar to other associations, but specifically for Māori students who study business, and we support them with their mahi. We host events and collaborate with other Māori clubs and associations; we cater to Māori who need a support system. I was offered the position of engagement officer and eventually became co-president of Te Mana Pakihi.

"I was also a part of Women in Business, and my tutor was from BNZ. She honestly was the best of the best. She taught me so much, and I'll always be grateful for everything she shared. I was also in the Toroa Programme and participated in the EY Business Student of the Year competition. The EY Business Student of the Year experience was truly eye-opening. I had the chance to meet many people who took part in many things and attended heaps of networking events. At the end of the day, it's not what you know, it's definitely who you know."

"Although I'm naturally a social person, I still faced barriers when it came to building connections. At university, it became more straightforward, and now in my work life, I apply those same skills every day, whether it's dealing with clients or knowing how to act and communicate in different situations.

"Of course, there will always be people you don't quite mesh with, but that's part of the job. You don't get to choose your team in work, just like in university, where you can't change your groups."

"I was really scared before I came to university. I used to compare my grades with others and came from a different learning background. During wharekura, we did not have the standard math and science classes. Our worldview of learning is completely different, but I love that. For example, we would go into the bush and learn about rongoā Māori, raranga and other things relating to Te Ao Māori, and how to live off the land. Many rangatahi Māori struggle with stepping out of their comfort zones, which is perfectly fine. I had that mindset. But my advice is to block out the noise that doesn’t matter and focus on your own journey. Don’t let others’ opinions define your worth."