皇家华人

Kaimahi

Staff Profile

Meet Tui Kaumoana, 皇家华人 Kai膩rahi

30 June 2021
Learn about Tui Kaumoana (Ng膩ti Maniapoto, Waikato) and her role as Kai膩rahi 鈥 a leader and bridge between 皇家华人 and M膩ori communities.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Meet Tui Kaumoana, 皇家华人 Kai膩rahi

E rau rangatira m膩, koutou ng膩 uri o Tuperiri, o T膩maki herenga waka, t膿n膩 koutou katoa. Tuheitia P艒t膩tau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu, t膿n膩 koe e noho mai na i runga i te ahurewa tapu o ng膩 t奴puna 艒 t艒na whaea, paim膩rire ki te K膩hui ariki nui t艒nu, rire, rire, hau, paim膩rire.

Ko Pirongia te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Ng膩ti Mahuta te hapu
Ko Waikato te iwi
Ko P奴rekireki te marae

Ko Tui Kaumoana t膿nei

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the work of kaum膩tua & kaimahi before me who have demonstrated incredible leadership for Te Ao M膩ori at 皇家华人, such as Matua Rawiri Wharemate, (moe mai r膩), Matua Jim Peters, Matua Geremy Hema and the PVC M膩ori Office past and present. E mihi kau ana ki a r膩tou.

I have an MBA from the University of Auckland, with a specialisation in M膩ori business development. I have also written a thesis on the commercialisation of M膩ori medicine.

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Before 皇家华人 I worked in corporate and protocol roles with my tribal entity, Waikato Tainui and the Office of the Kiingitanga, which has really enhanced my passion for positive M膩ori kaupapa.

I also have extensive business and entrepreneurial experience. I spent six years in Shanghai running a furniture manufacturing company that exported products made with New Zealand pine to Canada, Australia and Aotearoa. I鈥檓 therefore a speaker of Mandarin.

What does your role as Kai膩rahi involve?

As one of the 10 Kai膩rahi, (M膩ori strategic leaders), a role established throughout the University to guide our corresponding areas to lead M膩ori inclusion and contribution. My specific Kai膩rahi position is to guide the research and innovation sector of the University, based out of 皇家华人.

As a member of the Associate Dean M膩ori/Kai膩rahi Community of Practice, convened by the Pro Vice-Chancellor M膩ori Office and a sub-committee of R奴nanga, Kai膩rahi are part of the University's M膩ori governance function. This position is a unique opportunity to champion the Indigenisation Strategy - Kawea Ake, the University Strategic plan, Taumata Teitei and Te Ao M膩ori initiatives connected to Research & Innovation. I enjoy harnessing my entreprenuerial experience to drive opportunities for M膩ori and Pasifika in the Research and Innovation sector of the University for local and global impact.

Do you have a favourite whakatauk墨?

鈥淢膩 te huruhuru ka rere te manu鈥 鈥 Adorn the bird with feathers to enable it to fly. 

I like this whakatauk墨 (proverb) because it speaks of empowerment. Being a mother of daughters, I鈥檓 always mindful to advocate for w膩hine to be treated with respect and to consider how I would like my daughters to be treated.

N艒 reira t膿n膩 koutou, t膿n膩 koutou, t膿n膩 koutou katoa.

N膩ku noa n膩,
Tui Kaumoana
Kai膩rahi 鈥 Principal M膩ori Advisor