Rangatahi Māori explore creative arts pathways during campus visit

Nōna Te Ao is a charitable trust that provides educational, leadership, mentoring and career opportunities to rural rangatahi Māori across Mataatua, Te Tairāwhiti and Kahungunu.

The Trust’s E Tipu E Rea programme is aimed at empowering rural rangatahi Māori to think widely about what the future can hold. This programme includes a weeklong wānanga that exposes them to all the opportunities around them, with a strong focus on tertiary education, training, employment and vocational pathways.

Hosted by Student Recruitment Advisor Puawai Taiapa-Aporo and the Future Students Team, the group of 100 rangatahi spent half a day on the Pukeahu campus, where they were given an immersive experience of the National Academy of Screen Arts and the campus’ commercial music suites.

Following a tour of the campus, the group met with Te Rau Tauawhi Māori Student Centre staff, who fielded questions about studying at Massey. Ms Taiapa-Aporo took the rangatahi through a whakawhanaunga session in the Great Hall of the Dominion Museum Building.

Under the expert guidance of James Coyle and Mike Gibson from Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts (CoCA), the group visited one of CoCA’s recording studios, where they were able to record three waiata.

Ms Taiapa-Aporo says the level of talent and professionalism from the rangatahi was magical and made the recording really special.

“It's always an honour to work with our whānau from home and plant those seeds for our hau kāinga. We got some good feedback and were told 15 students are wanting to apply for music next year! We look forward to strengthening the relationship between Nōnā Te Ao in the future and providing a greater level of support for Kura Kaupapa Māori.”