Schools and Community Engagement

In 2021 our office went through a significant change. We’re currently embedding a new approach to school and community engagement – The Pōwhiri Model. Central to this approach is connecting with learners, their families, schools and the wider community through reciprocal relationships that are developed over a longer period of time than in a learners final high school years. Check out our annual calendar to the right which aligns to the new direction we're taking.

International students should contact the International Office for relevant information.

Papali’i Michael Mau’u, Faculty Recruitment Manager - Te Ūnga Team

'o le ala i le pule o le tautua' - the pathway to leadership is through service.

Papali’i joined the team in 2022 with over 20 years in leadership across the retail sector and extensive experience in community sports. Papali’i oversees a team of faculty experts, who are tasked with developing and delivering a range of faculty-specific events. Our Te Ūnga team also service regions outside of Auckland through in-school visits and whānau events across Aotearoa.

Max Fong Murray, Engagement Manager - Te Terenga Team

“I originally wanted to be a teacher before I found out you could engage with young people in other ways”

Max has extensive knowledge of secondary-tertiary transitions having entered the university through the Tertiary Foundation Certificate and serving as an Adviser before being appointed Manager. Max oversees the Terenga Team – our Auckland-based team, including our Pacific Adviser, as well as our Wellington-based Adviser, who deliver in-school visits as well as initiatives aimed at early tertiary exposure and informed subject planning – check out our Future Me programme below

Isabella Mory, Scholars Engagement & Outreach Manager

"I'm passionate about supporting rangatahi on their educational journeys and providing them with experiences that help them grow personally and academically."

Isabella is responsible for enhancing the University's efforts to attract high achieving school leavers, which includes overseeing our extension programmes Catalyst (an event series that connects New Zealand's brightest Year 12 students with University research centres), the Young Scholars Programme (university courses available to Year 13), and the Student Ambassador Programme (university students representing the University).

Katalina Ma, Pathways Manager - The Pathways Team

“The core focus of our Pathways Team is to grow STEM success across the secondary sector, increasing preparedness for tertiary education”

Katalina has 15+ years across the secondary sector as a former HOD Math and SLT member. As our Pathway Programmes Manager, Katalina oversees the delivery and ongoing development of our tertiary pathway programmes. Check out one of our Pathway initiatives below

Anaru Parangi (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine), Poutaki Taura Tangata Māori /Māori Relationship Manager 

“I am a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child and as a member of that village, I view my responsibility to our Kura, our rangatahi and their whānau as an important role in supporting and raising our leaders of tomorrow”

Anaru is responsible for ensuring Waipapa Taumata Rau has a strategically aligned enterprise-wide Māori engagement approach for our Māori highschoolers and their whānau. With different teams and programmes, we want to make sure the tauira journey from first learning about Waipapa to becoming our alumni is mana-enhancing and student-centric. Anaru works with our Māori Adviser and is building our Māori Student Ambassador Programme – Tauira Amorangi Māori, to ensure we are adequately resourced to deliver service excellence to our Kura Kaupapa, Wharekura, Secondary Schools and whānau.