Despite growing up around tangihanga and with a background in funeral directing and embalming, Te Roopu Moana never fully understood the reasoning behind certain Māori practices until she enrolled in a tikanga programme at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Tauranga.

“I've always been around sick, deceased, and dying people. That's normal for me and I'm comfortable with it. My mum was always called when someone was ill to offer karakia or whakamoemiti, and I would go along with her. I had been observing our tikanga growing up, but no one ever explained the reasons behind them. When I had my interview (for the programme), I was told, ‘this programme is the why’.”

Te Roopu’s decision to dive deeper into tikanga was sparked when she realised that her final report on tangihanga for her master’s degree in Technological Futures with Academy EX felt too westernised.

“Even though I was raised within te ao Māori, I don't speak te reo and I have a disconnect. I thought, how can I make my report more meaningful to me? How can I create something that resonates with whoever reads it? That’s when I decided to enrol in a tikanga programme to help me develop my kōrero, and I signed up for Te Whāinga o te Ao Tikanga.”

Under the guidance of her kaiako, Marama Furlong, Te Roopu found the deeper meaning behind tikanga practices. This learning not only helped her complete her master’s, but it also shaped the future direction she wanted to pursue.

Te Roopu realised that while she could confidently discuss funeral directing and embalming with bereaved whānau, her inability to properly introduce herself as Māori was a barrier.

“I didn't know my pepeha, or how to structure a kōrero about my whakapapa to make meaningful connections with others. I knew this was something I needed professionally. Thankfully, Whaea Ma provided that foundation right from the start of the programme. I immediately knew I was in the right place.”

Te Roopu is grateful for the invaluable learning and the nurturing environment her kaiako created for her and her fellow tauira, allowing them to grow with confidence.

“Whaea Ma is incredible. She’s great at explaining why we follow certain practices, and she’s approachable in that way. It’s easy to just follow tikanga because it’s what’s always been done but understanding the why gives it so much more meaning. This knowledge has certainly deepened my understanding and connection.”

Find out more about our Te Tirohanga Māori - Māori Worldview programmes.