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About the Te Kakau a Māui scholarship

14 July 2023

For our 150th anniversary scholarships, we wanted a name that honoured the stories and traditions of te ao Māori and spoke to the immense potential of our target applicants. Te Kakau a Māui does just that, inspired by the many feats of demi-god Māui, and the unique tool he used to accomplish them. Find out more about the rationale behind these scholarships.

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This includes everything from mentoring and PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Sessions) to success and careers coaching, as well as a number of social events to encourage and foster whanaungatanga. 

The programme

To help 150th anniversary Te Kakau a Māui scholarship ākonga students settle in and have the best university experience, UC offers a jam-packed programme of support throughout their entire undergraduate degree.  This includes everything from mentoring and PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Support for first year students only) to success and careers coaching, as well as a number of social events to encourage and foster whanaungatanga.

In 2024, we will be welcoming a new cohort of first-year ākonga to the Te Kakau a Māui programme alongside our 2023 cohort who will be undertaking their second year of studies. There will be a separate programme for each cohort based on the activities outlined below, with opportunities for both cohorts to connect. 

Programme aim

The programme is guided by UC’s framework of Ngā Uara | Our Values, to build capability in ākonga using manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga, enabling them to thrive and setting them on the path for life-long learning.

Student outcomes

Whanaungatanga

  • Establish and connect with ongoing support networks
  • Develop relationships within UC Community

Tiakitanga

  • Navigate the transition to university life
  • Learn and share knowledge

Manaakitanga

  • Empowered to take on new challenges
  • Achieve academic goals and aspirations

Support on offer

The programme will be driven through Whanaungatanga, Success and Careers coaching sessions to build connection and a sense of belonging at UC. Each session will occur 3 times a term. All scholarship recipients are strongly encouraged to attend. The following areas will be covered:

  • Whanaungatanga – Social get togethers to build and foster whanaungatanga and include both on and off campus activities.
  • Success – Facilitated by dedicated Success Coach, these group and 1:1 sessions will contribute to the development of academic mindset and resilience in ākonga.
  • Careers – Facilitated by dedicated Careers Coach, these sessions will centre on career development learning.

In addition to the support offered through these sessions, the programme includes:

  • Alumni Mentoring – Alumni will be matched with ākonga based on career aspirations and industry knowledge for formal and ad hoc mentoring and support. This may be 1:1 or in a group setting depending on the preferences of both the ākonga and the mentors.
  • PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Support) – A peer to peer programme that brings ākonga together in regular group study sessions which are aligned with a first-year course. PALS is available to first year students only.
  • Events – A range of events will be held throughout the year with a variety of guest speakers to help students get the most from their UC experience, strengthen whanaungatanga and build a sense of belonging, this includes a 3 day camp.

Narrative

For our 150th anniversary scholarships, we wanted a name that both honoured the stories and traditions of te ao Māori and spoke to the immense potential of our target applicants.

Te Kakau a Māui does just that, inspired by the many feats of demi-god Māui, and the unique tool he used to accomplish them. In many of the stories about Māui and his deeds, he was said to possess a kakau, a crafted wooden handle to which he could lash different adze heads. He could change these at will and would select the appropriate head to suit the particular task or challenge immediately in front of him.

Much like Māui’s kakau, these scholarships will provide students with the foundation they need to set out on their tertiary journey. However, it will be up to them to shape what that journey looks like according to their own circumstances and aspirations – to craft it to their own design and use it wisely to create their own success.

Māui was not born into greatness, and instead earned his notoriety through his own grit and determination. He faced many challenges throughout his life, including mistakenly being cast aside by his parents at birth who thought he was stillborn.

He overcame each of these obstacles, and with each challenge he learned, and he grew. He earned a reputation for doing the unthinkable, inspiring him to continue challenging the status quo throughout his life.

He became known as something of a troublemaker, but today we think of him as one of our greatest changemakers. His deeds were devoted to making the world a better place, and stories of his life continue to be told across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa.

Rationale behind Te Kakau a Māui Scholarships

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Contact us

For general enquiries about the programme, please contact tkam_scholarship@canterbury.ac.nz

If you are a Te Kakau a Māui scholar and would like to book a 1:1 session with a Success Coach or Careers Coach, please click on the link below.

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