The annual Te Rōpū Māori elections have just opened up for tauira to fill the positions of Te Rito for 2025. Te Rōpū Māori is the Māori Students' Association at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. Similarly to OUSA, the association is governed by the student executive Te Rito, who are elected by tauira every year.
The home base of Te Rito and its members is the TRM whare. Current Tumuaki Gemella Reynolds-Hatem told Critic Te Ārohi that the whare is a home away from home for many tauira Māori at Otago. Sandwiched between the Leith and Selwyn College on Castle St (the Uni end), they’ve been known to stay up until 4am on some nights cooking, studying, and enjoying each other’s company.
Crucially, the whare will sometimes serve as the one-and-only home for some tauira caught out in the cost of living crisis. With some having no one to turn to when tight times mean choosing between rent and groceries, the whare has been there as “a safe space for students”.
TRM will often face accusations of being “cliquey” from outsiders of the whare. Despite the University’s recent rebrand in collaboration with mana whenua – adopting a new ingoa Māori and tohu – in becoming a more Te Tiriti-led institution, tauira Māori tend to be in agreement that Dunedin’s still pretty white. Hence the tendency to stick together.
And it’s the job of Te Rito to keep the boat afloat, hosting a whole calendar of cultural, social, and sporting events for tauira throughout the year, while also supporting and advocating for Māori students in and outside of the whare.
Upon the announcement of Te Rito positions opening for 2025, the current exec said: “If you believe you have what it takes or know someone who has what it takes to be in Te Rito, nau mai we have a position for you. Te Rito strives for our Māori tauira to endeavour on Māori students rights, love to work within a whānau environment, or even have an interest in leadership, admin, sports, culture, education, communication or event planning.”
There are seven positions open for 2025, including Te Tumuaki (President), and Te Tumuaki Tuarua ( Vice President), Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa (Socials Officer), Āpiha Matauranga (Academic Officer), Āpiha Ahurea (Cultural Officer), Āpiha Hauora (Sports Officer), and Kaipāpāho Matua (Comms Officer). All positions are ten hours per week, except both the Tumuaki Takirua (Co Presidents) positions which are fifteen hours. Kaihapai (Finance Officer) and Kaiwhakahaere Tari (Admin/Secretary) have a different election process.
Nominations opened last Thursday, September 26th, and will close Thursday, October 3rd at 5pm. Send nominations for selected positions to Tumuaki Takirua Gemella Reynolds-Hatem tumuaki@trm.org.nz or returning officer karin.fraser@otago.ac.nz. There’ll be a candidates Q&A forum on Friday October 4th at 12pm (location tbc). TRM advises students who are unsure whether they’re eligible as a TRM member to check their ID cards – if there are two taniwha on the bottom right corner, you’re in!