Tuākana Learning Communities Past Awardees
View all our previous awardees of a Tuākana Learning Community Award below.
2023 - Waipapa Tātai Hono Awardees
Michaela Topia
Michaela has been described as a force of nature with an unrelenting passion for education. Her nurturing presence is overwhelmingly felt by everyone who enters the whare—a reflection of her innate ability to manaaki and her commitment to helping our tauira and the kaupapa of Tuākana. The Faculty of Arts have commented that Michaela’s strong Māori identity, generosity and willingness to share her knowledge of tikanga and Mātauranga Māori is done for the benefit of all — Māori mai, Tangata Moana, Tauiwi mai; her nurturing demeanour uplifts their whole team and all wider community.
Pelimani Fisi’iahi
Pelimani is an expert in developing rapport with our students and is a pillar amongst Pacific male students dedicating time and effort to sit down with each and every one of them facilitating talanoa, providing pastoral care in a way that students are able to retain their mana and dignity. He has been described as developing, nurturing, and maintaining relationships with our students regardless of age, gender or ethnic background and works closely with the Māori Support Advisor to coordinate academic, pastoral and social events. Pasifika Success have highlighted how Pelimani encapsulates Waipapa Tātai Hono, continuously going over and beyond for our tauira to succeed.