Eru Kapa-Kingi
Eru revitilised his love for te reo Māori at Te Herenga Waka.
BA (Te Reo Maori) and LLB
“Te Herenga Waka and Te Kawa a Māui were the reason my reo was given new life, after a long period of not speaking it”.
Eru chose to study at Te Herenga Waka as he wanted to enter a world that was different to the one he grew up in. He wanted to excel in all that he did, firstly to honour his ancestors, and secondly to set a good model for other Māori students. During his time at Te Herenga Waka, he embraced opportunities to support fellow students, particularly Māori. He had many roles within Ngā Rangahautira (Māori Law Students’ Association) as well as tutoring roles both in te reo Māori and Pākehā law.
Te Tumu Herenga Waka is a space where Māori students can feel connected and comfortable in a place that is different. His acknowledgement of Te Herenga Waka will always live on through an unbreakable connection. Wherever he may go, he will always be connected to it and know that it played an important part in finding himself.
Te Herenga Waka and Te Kawa a Māui are reasons his reo was given new life, after a long period of not speaking. But he says that, "When I saw older students at university using te reo Māori, I was empowered again to believe in myself and my language."