Staff welcomed to Te Kawa a Māui
Annie is a global researcher who has fostered great respect in academic Indigenous communities in Australia, and is embedded in and networked into several local Wellington communities. She contributes greatly to Victoria’s desire to become a capital city university of global standing,” says Dr Mercier.
“Vini submitted Victoria’s first PhD in te reo Māori and contributed to a major research effort on te reo Māori planning and policy. We are excited about the innovative thinking and energy he brings to te reo Māori scholarship.”
Vini and Annie also coincidentally completed undergraduate studies together at Victoria.
Vini (Nga Potiki a Tamapahore) has been a teaching fellow at Te Kawa a Māui for two and a half years while working on his PhD. Now that his PhD has been submitted, Vini says he is looking forward to being able to focus his energy on his classes, working fulltime as a lecturer.
Vini’s PhD research looks at te reo Māori bilingualism and sociolinguistics, and he says this has helped him to understand what he’d like to continue to research in the future at Te Kawa a Māui.
“Over my course of study I’ve fallen in love with lots of other stuff, as well as te reo Māori. I’m now really interested in looking at the health of our waterways, and Māori male development.
“One thing I really admire about Te Kawa a Māui is the high representation of female academics. And I love the political buzz, and research focus that Victoria has.”
Vini also completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honours at Victoria in 2013.
Annie (Te Atiawa, Ngati Mutunga) gained her Bachelor of Arts with Honours at Victoria in 2013. She has returned to Wellington after spending time in Canberra at the Australian National University, studying for a PhD at the University’s National Centre for Indigenous Studies. Her PhD research looks at Māori relationships with local government, and exploring how her iwi, Taranaki Whānui, create a political presence in Wellington.
“Because of my research interest in politics, it’s really valuable studying in the capital city and at Victoria.
“I’m really excited to start working with the team as a lecturer at Te Kawa a Maui, and to start meeting students and teaching. To be back in a space where te reo Māori is spoken frequently is also something I’m looking forward to.”
Annie will begin teaching in Trimester Two.