Moana Ellis

Te Tohu Toi Tangata: Bachelor of Humanities

Majors: Indigenous Business, Indigenous Studies

I thought I knew what I wanted to learn. I signed up for new business skills and tools to benefit our hapū in post-settlement development mahi. As they say, be careful what you wish for. What I learnt turned nearly everything I thought I knew on its head.

One of the taonga of this programme is the space to be challenged to think critically about how we live. We had the privilege of learning from some great Māori and Indigenous minds, original thinkers and transformational leaders. Over three years, we studied history, language, culture, policy, business, leadership, politics and the ongoing challenges for the Indigenous in colonising societies – all in a cross-cultural space that values indigenous knowledge and upholds mana motuhake.

An environment like this is a critical advantage for students. It gives you a broader view and deeper understanding of the issues, as well as tools to critique and analyse. We learnt to ask questions of ourselves and others, to have an informed position, and to contribute to broader problem-solving frameworks. But that is just the beginning. We are then challenged to take our learning home and use it for positive change. Always, the drive is to take action and address the issues we face. That is where the real mahi begins….