Please click below to access the Te Wānanga o Raukawa 2023 Graduation Booklet.  

Click here to access the 2023 Graduation Booklet

Our practise as kaitiaki

Out of Whakatupuranga Rua Mano: Generation 2000 came the commitment expressed in the following principle:

The marae is our principal home, maintain and respect

This has many implications for the way in which tangata whenua and manuhiri will act on marae. In tikanga Māori, an accepted practice, procedure or protocol is known as a 'kawa'. Each marae or wähi Māori has its own kawa. The maintenance and adherence to the kawa is important to the tangata whenua of that place. To infringe on the kawa of a particular place demeans the home people. The tangata whenua will take steps to reaffirm their kawa. It may lead to a rebuke of the offending party right there and then, or the reaction may be delayed for maximum effect.

All marae seek to uphold kawa and at Te Wānanga o Raukawa we enforce Te Kawa o te Ako. They are the practices, procedures and protocols which protect and maximise the learning and teaching potential of students and staff of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. In particular, it aims to curb activity reducing the capacity to learn and teach.

One dimension of Te Kawa o te Ako, is that those who feel they cannot abstain from using drugs and alcohol should stay away. Those who disregard Te Kawa o te Ako put themselves and their whānau at risk of being challenged by those who feel the need to uphold Te Kawa o te Ako. The timing of the challenge may be selected to achieve maximum impact on the person who has 'broken the kawa'.  Read more here.

The term ‘He Purutanga Mauri’ and its use emerged during discussions in the late 1980s and early 1990 about honorary doctorates to recognise significant scholarship and/or contributions to understanding and progress, by certain kuia and koroua of the Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira Confederation. Discussion was initiated by rangatahi as a best attempt to acknowledge kuia and koroua who had passed down their knowledge and expertise. This led to conferral of the title ‘Purutanga Mauri’ in 1990.  It recognises contributions to wānanga but also recognition of the special knowledge and expertise held by each of them including their contributions to the rangatiratanga of the Confederation of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira.  The title ‘He Purutanga Mauri’ is translated as ‘A Keeper of the Spiritual Life Principle’. 

In total, 15 kaumātua have been conferred as Purutanga Mauri.

Inducted in  1990: Pateriki Te Rei (1913-1995); Tukawekai Kereama (1919-1995); Rangiamohia Parata (1910-1999); Rongokino Hekenui (1914-1999).

Inducted in 1995: Ngāpukapuka Kereama (1912-2004); Te Whetūmārama o te Ata Kereama (1924-1996); Ruta Rene (1923-1996); Kiripuai Te Aomarere (1916-2007); Ngarongo Iwikatea Nicholson (1939-2017).

Inducted in 2005: Pōwhiri Lawton (1925-2012); Reimana Blackmore (1927-2015); Pita Richardson (1935-2019); Akuhata Akuhata (1935-2018); Whatarangi Winiata, Matiu Rei. 

The Constitution of Te Wānanga o Raukawa provides for purutanga mauri representation on Te Mana Whakahaere, the wānanga’s governing body. Alongside advice in matters of kawa and tikanga of the three founding iwi, recommendations for appointments, teaching, thesis examination and committee participation, Purutanga Mauri lead graduation ceremonies and are first in line to greet, congratulate and present taonga to graduands. Read more here.

Accommodation is available on campus and should we need it, at our local marae.  If you have reserved accommodation for the night before graduation day, please remember to bring blankets and personal items and register with Kaitiaki upon arrival.  A pōwhiri will be held on Thursday 7 December, 5pm on the Ōtaki Campus for manuhiri staying please gather outside Waitapu.  

For those accommodated on campus or at local marae, dinner will be served at 5.30pm that evening and breakfast at 7am the morning of graduation. 

If circumstances change, please complete an updated RSVP form and/or advise your academic whare Kaikōkiri as soon as possible.

PARKING:

Parking will be available at our Te Wānanga o Raukawa main carpark with entry from 41 Te Rauparaha St; and the Ōtaki township in the following areas:

• Behind the Ōtaki Museum, access from Main St or Rangatira St

• By the Ōtaki RSA, access from Raukawa St

• Rangiātea Church, access from Te Rauparaha St

Kaumātua can still be dropped off at the venue outside Ngā Purapura.  Shuttles will be available to help transport those who need it. Please follow the signs and directions from Te Wānanga o Raukawa kaimahi. Remember to arrive in plenty of time to walk from your park to the front of Te Ara a Tāwhaki at 9.15am.  It will take approximately three to four minutes to walk from the Te Wānanga o Raukawa car park to the pōwhiri gathering area.  Our kaimahi will be on hand to direct and answer any queries.

In the event of wet weather, you are welcome to take cover in the student hub located in Te Ara a Tāwhaki before gathering for the pōwhiri at 9.15am.

PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY:

Following the sounding of the pūtātara, the karanga to begin will start promptly at 9.30am, please gather by the western entrance to Ngā Purapura, closest to the Kura by 9.15am, marshalls will be there to direct you. Once everyone is inside and the haka pōwhiri is complete, this is followed immediately by the mihimihi.

9.30am Whakaaraara – Pūtātara, Karanga, Haka Pōwhiri

10.00am Mihi - Ko Ngā Purutanga Mauri

10.15am Karakia Whakapūmau

10.30am Presentation of Awards

11.00pm Kapu Tī Announcement

2.00pm Hākari

Please ensure you stay up to date with where proceedings are at throughout the day. Click here for an up to date version of our graduation book. The days events will conclude with a hakari at about 2pm–2.30pm.

Te Rā Whakapūmau will be livestreamed via our Te Wānanga o Raukawa website and the links shared across our social media platforms.

CHECK BACK SOON FOR MORE DETAILS>>