Stories of our gifted names
Ensuring te reo Māori has a strong presence at the University is important to our community of students, staff, and alumni, and to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori team, which receives many requests for naming different parts of the University.
“The more we can introduce te reo Māori into our everyday activities in the University, the better for the revitalisation of the reo,” says Associate Professor Meegan Hall (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and Ngāti Apakura), Assistant Vice-Chancellor Mātauranga Māori. Dr Hall often collaborates with Deputy Vice-Chancellor—Māori and Engagement Professor Rawinia Higgins (Tūhoe), to name the University’s various tools, schools, roles, and more.
Below we explore the meanings behind some of the Māori names at Te Herenga Waka.
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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'.
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Te Hiwa—steering the waka
Te Hiwa means 'the steering paddle' and is the name of the University's senior leadership team.
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Te Ama
Te Ama is the name of the committee of faculty deans and service directors, and it refers to 'the outrigger of a canoe'.
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Pūaha
Pūaha is the name of the student portal. Its meaning is drawn from 'the mouth of a river'.
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Kurawai
Kurawai is the name of the University’s student customer relationship management system and means 'a reservoir'.
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Nuku
Relating directly to the word Papatūānuku (which connects us to the earth), Nuku is the name of our learning management system.
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Titoko
Tītoko—the Centre for Student Success—is named after the sprit (or spar) on a sail.