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<p>MAI WAITAPU KI RUNGA TE POU KI TE TONGA</p>

<p>KI WAIH&#332;HONU TE POU KI TE RAKI</p>

<p>E PIKI AKE KI TE TAUMATA O RUAHINE</p>

<p>WHAKAWHITI ATU KI TE TAUMATA O TE WHAKAUAE A TAMATEA P&#332;KAI WHENUA</p>

<p>KO NG&#256; TAMA TOKOTORU KAHUNGUNU, RUAEHU ME TAMAK&#332;PIRI M&#332;KAI P&#256;TEA E NGUNGURU NEI</p>

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<p>Ko Aorangi te maunga tapu, ko Ruahine ng&#257; pae maunga</p>

<p>Ko Moawhango rahi, ko Rangit&#299;kei ng&#257; Awa</p>

<p>Ko R&#257;t&#257;, ko Winiata, ko Opaea, ko Moawhango ng&#257; Marae.</p>

<p>He uri mokopuna ahau o Ng&#257; Iwi Nui Tonu o M&#333;kai P&#257;tea, ko Ng&#257;ti Whitikaupeka, Tamak&#333;piri, Hauiti me Ng&#257;i te Ohuake.</p>

<p>Ko Pia Nganeko Potaka raua ko Steven Te Pahoke Bennett &#333;ku m&#257;tua.</p>

<p>Ko Meretini Bennett-Huxtable t&#333;ku ingoa.</p>

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<p>I was born in Whanganui and raised in Taihape, where I now live as a mum to three young mana wahine on our ancestral lands in M&#333;kai P&#257;tea. I&rsquo;m raising our girls in the lessons of sustainability and survival with the whenua whether as a gardener, hunter, gatherer or diver immersed in our taiao. We live flanked by the landmarks and sites of significance as told through our whakapapa.</p>

<p>An eagerness from a young age to learn the intricate art of whakapapa, under my mother&rsquo;s watchful eye, has helped to acquire transferable skills in building relationships, networking and collaborating. I have always been passionate about the wisdom of our tupuna, and I believe that this wisdom can help us as M&#257;ori to live vibrant and healthy lives.</p>

<p>I have been actively part of the movement of Maramataka in the Whanganui, Rangit&#299;kei and Ruapehu region since 2017, however I have been a practitioner of it from birth. This passion for Maramataka has led me into dynamic and innovative mahi that is oriented around increasing community and wh&#257;nau wellbeing through the active application of m&#257;tauranga M&#257;ori. I am currently employed as a Lead Systems Innovator at Healthy Families Whanganui Rangit&#299;kei Ruapehu where I get to mobilise with our communities to explore and think innovatively, developing opportunities to tell and measure our own narrative as indigenous people.</p>

<p>This passion for the revitalisation and evolution of m&#257;tauranga M&#257;ori in practice has led me into the research space. I am currently undertaking a Masters of M&#257;ori &amp; Indigenous Leadership through Aotahi at&nbsp;the University of Canterbury. This Masters work focuses on reclaiming our wellbeing through maramataka. My aim is to contribute to the body of knowledge that informs a preventative health approach based in m&#257;tauranga M&#257;ori.</p>

<p>I am also a part of a research team working on Tai-o-Rongo, a kaupapa M&#257;ori programme of research that seeks to explore how M&#257;ori food and fibre producers can revitalise M&#257;ori ancestral knowledge systems to transform the future of M&#257;ori agribusiness. This programme involves &#256;tihau-Whanganui Incorporation, Ng&#257;ti Rangi and Ng&#257; Waihua o Paerangi Trust, as well as other uri of Taranaki and Whanganui. This research will happen over the next three years, as we ask: How do we build capacity and capability to preserve and reignite M&#257;ori ancestral knowledge systems and practices for understanding our natural world?</p>

<p>I am really excited about the opportunity presented by the Summer Studentship with Whakauae. As I get increasingly involved in academic research around my passions, I recognise my own need to learn alongside experienced M&#257;ori researchers and to deepen my applied research skills. I am passionate about communicating our insights and learnings in a way that is accessible and engaging for our people, and so I am particularly interested in the focus area of Translation, Uptake &amp; Impact. This Summer Studentship would offer me the opportunity to advance my research skills so I can then take them into my other areas of work and research, enabling me to give more effectively to my communities and to increase the uptake of m&#257;tauranga M&#257;ori systems for the betterment of M&#257;ori wellbeing.</p>

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