Kaiurungi: New A+W NZ Position Established
BackKaiurungi can be translated to english as an ocean steerer, a guide for A+W NZ in our process of finding our feet / our place in Te Ao Maori. Amber's poetic description is of Kaiurungi as a gentle helmsman, "particularly with Aotearoa being the land that connects two bodies of water. The relationship between water and land from a Pacific lens, and arrival."
In welcoming Amber, we also acknowledge and warmly thank our first unofficial / un-named Kaiurungi, Elisapeta Heta. For the four years she was part of A+W NZ, Elisapeta helped us navigate our way through our education and committments as an open, community-based organisation in a bicultural country.
The full core team structure, and current leaders, is now the following;
Co-Chairs: Lynda Simmons and Divya Purushotham
Secretary: Sukshma Paranjpe
Treasurer: Suchi Undevia
Kaiurangi: Amber Ruckes ((Tūhoe/Ngāti Porou)
Networks: Anner Chong
Events: Ysabelle Empiso
Research:Ashleigh Smith
Policy: Lynda Simmons
Mana Taumata: Sarah Treadwell
Image credit: Dawid Wisniewski for Warren and Mahoney. Amber is seen fourth from the left, smiling. The image shows members from Te Matakīrea, Warren and Mahoney’s Advanced Māori Design Unit.