Community, connection and commitment focus of new annual event
17 July, 2025
Refreshed vision shared at Hākari with our Hāpori
Associate Director of Māori Success Tate Tiatia shared milestones from the past year and the work of Ara's Māori Success team to refresh the Framework for Māori Success
A vibrant celebration focused on connecting with community, sharing achievements and steering future goals is set to become an annual event to conclude Matariki (Māori New Year) at Ara Institute of Canterbury.
The Hākari with our Hāpori event welcomed community and key stakeholders into Te Puna Wānaka to hear about vocational education sector change, the formation of Ara’s new Māori Success team and the new chapter emerging as the institute prepares to standalone in 2026.
There was a robust discussion panel on ideas for future growth as well as plenty of laughter and hearty waiata (song). Ara's Associate Director of Māori Success, Tate Tiatia, said the value of connection could not be underestimated and the timing of Matariki was perfect.
“As we move into the new year, it’s timely to bring our community together to share recent outcomes aligned with our vision and help set future priorities for our Māori success strategy,” she said.
The event included a look back on the history of "whānau (family) transformation through education" at Ara, which had its origins in the mahi of Monte Te Rereamoamo Ohia, the loved and respected former Ara Te Pou Matua/Kaiārahi (leader).
His vision had gone on to inform and shape Ara’s strategic goals, behaviours and practices over time - most recently Ara’s refreshed Framework for Māori Success.
“Our new Māori Success Team has re-examined our vision, mission and priorities, and it was good to let our stakeholders know that this mahi (work) had been done,” Tiatia said.
In addition, highlights for 2024 were shared, including the graduation of well over 300 ākonga Māori across Ara campuses, 100 nominations for academic achievement and community contribution awards, and engagement events hosting hundreds of learners and their whānau.
Tiatia noted the graduation of ten Māori midwives, growth in Ara’s tuakana-teina mentoring programme and the instigation of Wāhi Akoranga, a new wellbeing event, as further milestones.
For 2025, she acknowledged the growth in new relationships such as Ara’s connection with Tōkona te Raki and the creation of the on-campus mural Manawa Pou, Manawa Ora by Ngāpuhi artist Bradley Kairau (known as “Haser”).
“This year we’ve seen Māori participation in reo Māori (Māori language) study tracking 40.7 percent up, exceeding our target by 27.6 percent across all te reo programs. Fees-free for te reo study at Level 3-6, which was so strongly advocated for by our community, has certainly had an impact,” she said.
Other key focus areas for Ara Māori Success team were connecting with rūnanga and Māori entities to establish relationships and priorities, strengthening stakeholder partnerships such as Pūhoro STEMM Academy, and He Toki Trades Training.
The hākari also provided an ideal time to begin a new tradition - paying tribute to a living taonga (treasure) connected with Ara to recognise their legacy of contribution.
Matua Harry Westrupp and Tate Tiatia alongside a picture of Te Rereamoamo Monte Ohia - respected initiator of whānau transformation through education
Ara kaumātua (elder), community champion and long-serving employee Matua Harry Westrupp was recognised for his 20-year dedication to the realisation of whānau transformation through education.
Tiatia said his contributions and connections were vast, and his guidance had hugely impacted the work of many at Ara both individually and collectively.
“Harry was appointed to a new role as kaumātua in 2021 to support, guide and mentor colleagues and learners as we set about being a Tiriti-led organisation. Although he's unwilling to stand in the spotlight, for decades he has steadfastly embodied the mission to raise the quality of life of Māori and Pasifika and uplift communities through education and employment,” she said.
Starting his own journey as a Māori Trades Training recruit in the early 1970s, Tiatia said Westrupp continued to be the voice of those who’d gone before while he paved the way for future generations.
Matariki started at Ara with a kawe mate ceremony (largely organised by Westrupp) to honour key people, now passed, who’d made strong contributions to Ara.
The event closed celebrating the extraordinary mahi of an admired leader, and a plan to gather annually to mark achievements and seek to develop even greater goals.
