Te Herenga Waka

Te Herenga Waka is the name of the University—originally the name of just the marae—and means 'the gathering place of canoes'. 

Te Herenga Waka

Te Herenga Waka, the name of the University—originally only the name of the marae—means the gathering place of canoes.

Waka—a canoe, herenga—a connection or tie.

“As a Māori concept, as a metaphor, it's about recognising that we come together in this place, and in this moment we are connected,” Dr Meegan Hall says.

“People often assume that we think of the University as being the waka. But actually, the way we understand it is that our students, staff, and community members come here on their various waka. The people are the waka. And we tie ourselves together as we connect in this place.”

Te Tumu Herenga Waka is the name of the University’s whare whakairo, the carved meeting house. The word tumu means 'hitching post’.

“We say you might arrive on your waka and tie yourself here, but the actual place that you’re tying yourself to is that whare—that meeting house,” says Dr Hall.

Te Hiwa—Steering the waka

Not long after joining the University, Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith requested a Māori name for the senior leadership team to mark their new phase and direction. The chosen name, Te Hiwa, which is a steering paddle, was a logical name for the team and continues the canoe metaphor of Te Herenga Waka.

“Part of it is around leadership, and plotting out a journey, setting the strategic direction and making sure we’re on the right course,” says Professor Higgins. “It’s not just a decorative feature, it has a direct influence on how we move into the future.”

Every student, staff, and community member is on their own waka, on their journey through the University, and Te Hiwa is there to steer the collective.

"It clarifies the focus and purpose of our senior leaders—their job is to provide that strong direction, to keep the hand on the steering paddle, and make sure that in this next phase of development there’s a clear type of leadership and direction of travel,” says Dr Hall. “That’s tied up with the new strategic plan that we’ve just approved, and some of the really hard decisions that the leadership team has had to make in the last 18 months to set a course for the University, and to make us fit and healthy and ready for what lies ahead.”

There are other meanings of the word hiwa as well. It can also mean to be watchful, or focused. “So that’s another element of it,” says Dr Hall. “There’s steering the direction of the University, but doing so with a watchful gaze and a clear focus about what we’re trying to achieve.”

Another meaning is to be vigorous, active, and robust. “There’s an energy, and a growth mindset to it as well,” Dr Hall says. “A hiwa is a steering paddle but if we think about the other elements of that word, it means steering in a way that is heading towards growth, with vigour, and being really focused on that development into the future.”

Here is a list of some of the approved University names and places in te reo Māori, and some further resources you may like to incorporate into your everyday use at the University.