Te Rā Kīngitanga Ki Kirikiriroa :: University of Waikato

Kirikiriroa Schedule

Rāpare 11 o Hepetema 2025 | Thursday 11 September 2025

Nau mai, haere mai! Check out the Kirikiriroa schedule – we’ve got a range of meaningful kaupapa (activities) that are free for staff and students. Some events require registration and may happen at the same time as others, so we recommend checking the schedule early and planning your day!

Click on the red arrows below to view the schedule in the dropdown!

Find out more about Kīngitanga Day

Kīngitanga Day

Wā \| Time	Kaupapa \| Activity	Kaiārahi Kaupapa \| Facilitator	Wāhi \| Location	Kaupapa Kōrero \| Synopsis
8:00AM	Te Hikinga o Te Kara \| Raising of the Flag		The Pā
8:30AM	Pōwhiri		Te Āhurutanga \| Student Hub
9:15AM – 9:30AM	Kupu Whakataki \| Opening Address	Te Ihorangi Māori Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai	Te Āhurutanga \| Student Hub
9:30AM – 10:30AM	Wānangananga \| Panel Discussion
	Tākiri Tū Te Kotahitanga, Tākiri Tū Te Mana Motuhake. Looking back to the future.	Panel Chair: Hon. Nanaia Mahuta Panelists: Hana Te Kowhai Ohia, Tāwhiao McMaster, Te Wehi Wright, Dr Season-Mary Downs, Moko Tepania, Mana Newton	Te Āhurutanga \| Student Hub	The panel discussion brings together some of our alumni from local government, iwi, business and legal arenas. Building on what settlements have enabled, but more importantly, thinking about what our future generations' aspirations are, our panellists are asked to be future-focused and thought-provoking. How do we navigate a world that is ever-changing but still hold true to the wisdom and knowledge of our ancestors? How prepared are we for the future? Hon. Nanaia Mahuta, Honorary Professor, Te Kotahi Research Institute. Hana Te Kowhai Ohia, Manager - Manukura Māori Business Team, PwC. Tāwhiao McMaster, Chair - Ngāporo Waimarino Forest Trust. Te Wehi Wright, Cultural Consultant & Advisor to the Māori All Blacks. Dr Season-Mary Downs, Director, Tukau Law. Moko Tepania Mayor, Far North District Council. Mana Newton, CEO, Tauhara North No. 2 Trust
10:30AM – 11:00AM	Paramanawa \| Morning Tea Break
10:30AM	Te Kōhao Kōhungahunga Performance	Te Kōhao Kōhungahunga	The Pā	Everyone is welcome to watch this performance.
11:00AM – 12:30PM	Ngā Kaupapa Kōrero \| Lectures & Workshops		S Block and The Pā
11:00AM – 11:45AM	Te Hau o Makuru Tīhate Launch	Waikato-Tainui	Te Āhurutanga	Tukaroto Mahuta, grandson of Principal Negotiator Sir Robert Mahuta and co-designer of the t-shirts will speak to the inspiration behind the design.
11:45AM – 12:30PM	Te Mana o Te Awa	Donna Flavell, Taipu Paki & Tuti Cooper	Te Āhurutanga	To Waikato-Tainui the Waikato River is a tupuna which has mana and in turn represents the mana and mauri of Waikato-Tainui. The Waikato River Authority is the co-governance entity established out of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 with a clear mandate to protect and restore the health and well-being of the Waikato and Waipā rivers. This session brings together senior leaders from the tribe and the Waikato River Authority to talk about Te Mana o te Wai. Donna Flavell is Tumu Whakarae (CEO) and Taipu Paki is Pou Matua – Ngā Mana-ā-Ture, GM Rights & Interests for Waikato-Tainui. Tuti Cooper is Operations Manager for the Waikato River Authority.
11:00AM – 12:30PM	Taku Rākau – People – Pine Entaglements in Aotearoa	Professor Te Kahautu Maxwell, Professor Margaret Barbour, Associate Professor Karen Barbour, Nicholas Kelyar-Magill, Professor Tahliah Temepara	Ko Te Tangata Wharenui, The Pā	This session will present a 14-minute documentary and offer a brief kōrero on the kaupapa and key findings of their research.
11:00AM – 12:30PM	Poi Making	Pupi Puke	The Pā Basement	Join us for a relaxed, hands-on poi making session in the Pā Basement — come craft your own set of poi. We’ll provide all the materials and guidance you need, so no experience is necessary — just bring your creativity and curiosity! Kia mōhio mai koutou — registrations are essential and spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up early to secure your spot. Register here
11:00AM – 12:30PM	Kīngitanga, Raupatu Settlement and Kīngitanga Day	Whetu Taukamo	S.1.02	This session offers an introduction to the Kīngitanga movement, aimed at those with little or no prior understanding. We will explore its origins in response to 19th-century challenges, its evolution over time, and its continued relevance in Aotearoa today. The presentation will also highlight the strong relationship between the Kīngitanga and Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, reflecting shared aspirations for Māori advancement and unity. Whetu Taukamo is the Pou Tūhono Manager here at the University of Waikato.
11:00AM – 11:45AM	Global Pathways, Indigenous Anchors: Indigenous Internationalisation as an expression of Kotahitanga and Mana Motuhake	Natalie Lulia	S.1.04	In a world shaped by accelerated change, how can international education facilitate connection, unity and self-determination? This session explores how global engagement can be rooted in Indigenous principles and serve the aspirations of past, present and future generations. Drawing on her work across borders and cultures, Natalie will share insights into building reciprocal relationships, amplifying Indigenous voices in global spaces, and designing international strategies that honour place, people, and purpose. Natalie Lulia is the Regional Director, Americas, Middle East and Europe (Acting) at Education New Zealand \| Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ).
11:45AM – 12:30PM	One Hive Humming	Matutaera & Mereaina Herangi	S.1.04	One Hive Humming is a call to unity and self-determination through the living metaphor of the hive. Rooted in papakāinga life and sustained by whānau enterprise, our hive hums as one while weaving into a global hive of indigenous peoples across the world. When one hive hums, the whole hive hums – ko tātou ngā pī.
11:00AM – 11:45AM	Taakiri Tuu: Co-Designing Cancer Care Services with Whānau	Chae Simpson	S.1.05	Whānau māori continue to experience some of the highest rates of cancer in Aotearoa, yet the health system does not always reflect their needs and aspirations. Through my PhD research and our mahi at Taakiri Tuu, we are working alongside communities to co-design and re-imagine cancer care. This approach ensures whānau voices shape services that are culturally grounded, practical, and responsive, building pathways that uphold mana motuhake and improve outcomes for Māori. Chae Simpson is Manukura for the Tākiri Tū Wellness and Diagnostic Centre, Te Kohao Health.
11:45AM – 12:30PM	Replenish Your Hauora Kete	Maia Svadlenak-Gardiner	S.1.05	How do you nurture our hauora when life feels heavy?Join Maia as she shares practical tools and whakaaro to help you care for your hauora and replenish your kete. Whether you're navigating stress, uncertainty, or emotional fatigue, this kōrero will provide gentle guidance and mātauranga Māori strategies to support your hauora. Maia Svadlenak-Gardiner has a BHealth from the University of Waikato and is currently the Paihere Tauira in Te Raupapa.
12:30PM – 1:30PM	Kai a te rā nui \| Lunch break
12:30PM	Whakangahau \| Performance	Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tōku Māpihi Maurea	The Pā	Everyone is welcome to watch this performance.

Wā \| Time	Kaupapa \| Activity	Kaiārahi Kaupapa \| Facilitator	Wāhi \| Location	Kaupapa Kōrero \| Synopsis
1:30PM – 2:15PM	Keynote & Panel Discussions		Te Āhurutanga \| Student Hub
	Creative Threads – The Importance of Cultural Expression	Keynote & Panelist: Kimi Kaire-Melbourne Panelists: Erica Sinclair and Nichola Te Kiri		This session brings together creatives in design, photography and documentary making, the common thread being they are all committed to telling Māori stories through and from distinctly Māori perspectives. Kimi Kaire-Melbourne produced the award-winning series, Homesteads which can be viewed on Māori TV. Erica Sinclair is a freelance photographer and one third of the Taringa podcast. Nichola Te Kiri is a contemporary Māori fashion designer and founder of the clothing brand Nichola.
2:15PM – 3:45PM	Ngā Kaupapa Kōrero \| Lectures & Workshops		S Block & The Pā
2:15PM – 3:00PM	Indigenous vs Indigineity - Language in Wales	Te Ao Hurihuri	S.1.01	In June 2025, members of Te Ao Hurihuri travelled to Cymru (Wales) to explore how Cymraeg (Welsh) shapes identity and belonging. This trip was a reciprocal visit between Waikato University and Cardiff University, with wāhine from Cardiff travelling to Aotearoa in 2024. This presentation shares reflections from the visit, focusing on the difference between "Indigenous" and "Indigeneity." We will look at how language is understood, used, and valued in Cymru, and how these perspectives compare to our own experiences in Aotearoa. Sofia-Maraea Gowans(FMIS), Molly Huggan(FMIS), Madison Karauna(Law), Breanna Waka(Law) and Nova Waretini Hewison (FMIS) are current students.
3:00PM – 3:45PM	Challenging our perceptions in Latin America	Te Ao Hurihuri	S.1.01	This Kīngitanga Day, we bring Colombia/Koromōpía back to Aotearoa! Hear from students who spent four weeks abroad, sharing what they saw, learned, and experienced while exploring Indigenous perspectives. Stories, surprises, and sparks of inspiration are guaranteed - plus a chance to see how tākiri tū te kotahitanga, tākiri tū te mana motuhake can strengthen our communities here at home. Atera Apirana (WMS), Amiria Drysdale (Law), Ivan Kana (FMIS), Kayla Manuirirangi (ALPSS), Blue Simpkins-Jones (Law), Ariana Stewart (ALPSS), Mana Tawahara-Crown (Health), Kaea Williams (Law) are current students.
2:15PM – 3:00PM	Manifesting the Māori Way	Marian Ruri	S.1.03	“Your tūpuna left you the blueprint to manifest your future.” What if the ancient creation codes of Te Korekore, Te Pō, Te Ao Mārama hold the key to turning vision into reality? In this kōrero, Marian Ruri (Waikato/Tūhoe) shares how manifesting the Māori way empowers us to live well, lead well, and create a thriving, self-determining future. Aligned with the theme of hauora, this isn’t just about personal wellbeing, it’s about collective strength, whakapapa, and reclaiming the power our tūpuna always knew we carried.
3:00PM – 3:45PM	Weaving Māori Hearts in the Digital Wharenui: Developing a kaupapa social media app	Dr. Moana Rarere – Te Ngira Institute Bj & Trevania Walbaekken – Mana Digital Ltd	S.1.03	Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, have enabled whānau and hapori Māori to connect and share information. However, these mainstream platforms raise serious threats around data ownership and privacy, especially where Indigenous and Māori Data Sovereignty is concerned. In this presentation we share research findings underpinning the development of a recently launched kaupapa Māori social media platform Tōku Whānau – one that is governed, owned, and shaped by Māori, and reflects Māori identity, values and aspirations. At the heart is Māori data sovereignty goals: asserting rights, ensuring protections, governing data repositories, and supporting digital infrastructure and innovation.
2:15PM – 3:45PM	Indigenous Biodiscovery – Tikanga and Technology	Te Kotahi Research Institute – Maui Hudson, Katie Lee Riddle, Manu Caddie, Michela Anderson & Danny Paruru	S.1.04	Indigenous Biodiscovery – Tikanga and Technology, will bring together tikanga-based perspectives alongside national and international biodiscovery policy updates, project showcases, and the launch of the Benefit Sharing Compass game. Through short presentations, scenario-based activities, and interactive discussion, participants will explore the challenges, rights, responsibilities, and opportunities in ethical commercial bio-discovery, as well as the policies that govern it.
2:15PM – 3:00PM	Tūrangawaewae mo te Hauora	Anna Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu	S.1.05	This session explores how the new graduate-entry medical programme at the University of Waikato is uniquely positioned to address New Zealand’s health challenges by being deeply rooted in the cultural and historical context of the Waikato region. Situated in the heartland of the Kīngitanga, the programme draws strength from its commitment to mana motuhake and community well-being. This wānanga will discuss how the medical school can honour this legacy—producing graduates who are not only clinically skilled but also culturally grounded and equity-focused. This is not just a medical school in Waikato, but a medical school of Waikato—for everyone.
3:00PM – 3:45PM	From Disconnection to Hā: Behing Hā Habit	Julia Wikeepa	S.1.05	Weaving together stories of resilience and the science of breath, Julia draws on Indigenous wisdom and modern neuroscience to show how the Hā Tool and its programmes help people regulate their nervous systems, reconnect, and build lasting wellbeing habits. Julia Wikeepa has a Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in Psychology from the University of Waikato. Julia has had a strong personal journey of overcoming adversity, reconnecting with whakapapa, and navigating mental health challenges, to building Hā Habit into an initiative transforming how people understand and respond to stress, anxiety, and habit change.
2:15PM – 3:45PM	Poi Making	Pupi Puke	The Pā Basement	Join us for a relaxed, hands-on poi making session in the Pā Basement - come craft your own set of poi. We’ll provide all the materials and guidance you need, so no experience is necessary - just bring your creativity and curiosity! Kia mōhio mai koutou — registrations are essential and spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up early to secure your spot. Register here
3:45PM – 4:00PM	Paramanawa \| Afternoon Break
4:00PM – 4:45PM	Kapa Haka Performance	Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, Te Waiora	Te Āhurutanga	Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato were the original kapa haka group who will perform together with Te Waiora, our current University kapa haka group, to close the day.
5:00PM	Karakia Whakakapi \| Closing Karakia		Te Āhurutanga	We invite everyone to join us in closing karakia.
5:00PM	Te Hekenga o Te Kara \| Lowering of the Flag		The Pā

The Pā
Wā \| Time	Kaupapa \| Activity	Wāhi \| Location
10:30AM – 4:00PM	Board Games and Colouring Competition	The Pā Wedge
10:30AM – 2:00PM	Taana’s Mussell Fritters	The Pā BBQ Area
11:00AM – 4:00PM	Te Waka o Matariki * Mirimiri & Romiromi * Kawakawa Face Pultice * Rongoā Rākau	Pā.G.30
Te Iho o Te Manawataki \| Library
Wā \| Time	Kaupapa \| Activity	Wāhi \| Location
11:00AM – 12:00PM	Mahi Māreikura Room Tour*	Te Iho o Te Manawataki \| Library
2:30PM – 3:30PM	Mahi Māreikura Room Tour*	Te Iho o Te Manawataki \| Library
All Day	Te Hau o Makuru Raupatu 30th Anniversary Video Series	Kōrero Corner - Te Iho o Te Manawataki \| Library

Te Rā Kīngitanga Ki Kirikiriroa

Kirikiriroa Schedule

Rāpare 11 o Hepetema 2025 | Thursday 11 September 2025

Find out more about Kīngitanga Day

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