Te Rito is the Student Executive team for Te Rōpū Māori and is made up of Tumuaki Takirua (Co-Presidents), Kaihāpai (Treasurer), Kaipāpāho Matua (Communications Officer), Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa (Social and Events Officer), Ngā Āpiha Hauora (Co-Recreation and Welfare Officers), Āpiha Mātauranga (Education Officer) and, Āpiha Ahurea (Cultural Officer)
Name, iwi, and what you're excited about for the year/fav WikiO kaupapa
Tumuaki Takirua (Co-Presidents)
Jarna Flintoff
Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Uenuku, Te Āti Hau Nui ā Pāpārangi, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Born and bred in Whanganui, in my 4th year on the grind of getting my tohu, jumping on Te Rito this year was an easy decision. Giving back to my whānau in the South and developing new skills to take home to my whānau in the North.
Sami Harrison Dunn
Ngāti Whatua ki Kaipara, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Maru ki Hauraki, Ngāti Ruanui Mo’oao
Kia ora mai tātou! E tipu ake au i te korowai o Te Kāhui Maunga mai i Whanganui me Te Hāwera hoki. He akonga o te tohu BASci: Neuroscience, Indigenous Development me he tohu iti o Hauora Māori. He aha te mea nui o tenei whare wānanga? He tauira nē? Ae, tērā te mea nunui mō Te Rōpū Māori, mō Te Rito o tenei tau, me au ano hoki.
Translation: Hello everyone! I was raised in Whanganui and Hāwera, under the mantle of Te Kāhui Maunga. I am currently studying a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Indigenous Development, with a minor in Māori Health. What is the most important thing at this university? It is the students, of course. That is what matters most to Te Rōpū Māori, to Te Rito this year, and to me as well.
Kaihāpai (Treasurer)
Tia Fleming
Ngāti Apa (Ngā Wairiki, Rangitīkei), Ngāti Kahungunu, Samoa (Falelima, Sapapali’I, Manono, Fasito’o Uta, Vailoa Aleipata), Cook Islands
I whakapapa to Kauangāroa, Whanganui, but was born and raised in South Auckland.
My whānau moved a lot, and we lived around Auckland, Melbourne, Samoa, and Hamilton, and now I live here in Ōtepoti with my own little whānau. I study a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and really enjoy it. I joined Te Rito to be an advocate for our tauira and continue to have our voices heard throughout the university.
Kaipāpāho Matua (Communications Officer)
Brady Simeon
Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi
I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Māori Studies, with a strong passion for te reo Māori and tikanga. I grew up in the Naughty North, in my hometown of Moerewa, and I joined Te Rito to do my part in uplifting and supporting all tauira Māori.
Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa (Social and Events Officer)
Dennis Kristel
Waikato-Tainui
Being a local has its perks; studying a Bachelor of Arts is fun, and being able to plan events is even better. Bringing bigger and better events to let our tauira enjoy their time at Otākou Whakaihu Waka.
Ngā Āpiha Hauora (Recreation and Welfare Officers)
Jonnee Harris
Waikato Tainui, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura
I’m from Te Awamutu in the North Island, a place that has shaped who I am and keeps me grounded in my values. My tohu is to lead with integrity, mana, and aroha in all that I do, staying connected to my culture and uplifting those around me. I ran for Te Rito to help strengthen our Māori presence at Otago, to create a space where tauira Māori feel supported.
Samuel Mokomoko
Te Whakatōhea, Ngai Tūhoe
I’m from a small town in the Eastern Bay of Plenty called Ōpōtiki, but I went to school in Tauranga and Hamilton. Growing up in Tauranga, there were a lot of summer vibes, and I think that’s why I always enjoy swimming. I’m studying a BSc in Physiology, and the reason I decided to join Te Rito was to give back to TRM.
Āpiha Mātauranga (Education Officer)
Jacqueline Nankivell
Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi
I grew up in Gisborne, a proud Kura kid for most of my life, and finished off my schooling at a Catholic school. I wanted to join Te Rito to help our Māori students thrive and make their whānau proud! I am studying a Bachelor of Law & Arts to hopefully become a lawyer or work in the Indigenous Development space.
Āpiha Ahurea (Cultural Officer)
Maioha Anae
Te Rarawa, Ngāti Tiipa, Ngāti Pikiahu Waewae, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Ira
I come from the mighty kokonga of Te Awakairangi, Lower Hutt, and I’ve lived there since the great year of 2011. Since then, I have been working to achieve my tohu: a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Media and Māori Studies. I joined Te Rito to share my mātauranga about Te Ao Māori, from my days as a wee child right through to today. However, I also see this as an opportunity to build a hononga motuhake with all tauira, staff, friends, whānau ko wai atu, ko wai atu. Arā, ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōnā te āo.