Te Tīma | The GUYK Team
Erin - Kaiwhakahaere
(Pākehā) (she/her)
Other mahi: Māmā, Kaiwhakahaere of Give Us Your Kids, rugby league coach
Interests: Whakangau/hunting with kurī, oma roa/distance running, mahi toi
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: My hononga is my tamariki, I also feel connected through the values of te ao Māori
Favourite childhood activity: Building race tracks in the dirt for my toy cars
Avalon - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Kāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāti Porou) (she/her)
Other mahi: Full time māmā, and studying te reo Māori (L3&4) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Interests: Te taiao, being in and around the moana especially. I love anime, One Piece is my fave.
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: Going back to my marae, being in te taiao
Favourite childhood activity: I have 4 siblings and my favourite activity was playing with them outside
Awatea - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkenga) (she/her)
Other mahi: Reliever at Kōhanga Reo o Te Whānau Tahi
Interests: Creating, painting, drawing and mahi toi
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: My whānau and mahi at kōhanga
Favourite childhood activity: Art
Jewlz - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Kāi Tahu) (she/her)
Other mahi: Hospitality worker
Interests: Rongoā Māori and mahika kai
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: Spending time with my whānau
Favourite childhood activity: Board games with my brothers and sisters
Kōmai - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Poutini Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Waewae) (she/her)
Kura: Te Whānau Tahi, Year 11
Other mahi: Kaimahi at Reo Māori Mai
Interests: Mahi toi, raranga, tuhituhi, swimming, cooking/baking
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: My whānau and my reo
Favourite childhood activity: Mahi toi
Reine - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Ngāti Tarawhai, Ngāti Porou) (she/her)
Kura: Avonside Girls High School, Year 13
Interests: Spending time with whanau, spending time outside adventuring and working towards my future goals
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: My whānau, kapa haka, wanting to learn more about my whakapapa, te ao Māori in the curriculum at kura
Favourite childhood activity: Competitions such as sport, games and quizzes
Amaleila - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Ngāti Kahungunu, Sāmoa) (she/her)
Kura: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi
Interests: Sports
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: My whānau, kura
Favourite childhood activity: ...
Amasio - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Ngāti Kahungunu, Sāmoa) (he/him)
Kura: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi
Interests: Sports, food, self improvement, culture
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: Ngā tīkanga ka whakamahia ki te kura, te whakakotahi ki taku whānau māori, te kōrero i te reo, karakia, kapa haka
Favourite childhood activity: playing sport
Luvena - Ringawera
(Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Kolomotu’a) (she/her)
Kura: Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha (UC)
Interests: Kapa haka and performing on stage, netball, food adventures – especially Maccas runs, Netflix binges and going to concerts!
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: My whakapapa and reclaiming my reo!
Favourite childhood activity: bullrush
Tūtaki - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkenga) (he/him)
Kura: Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha (UC)
Interests: Music, combat sports, ancient civilisations and ancient practices ie rongoā, mōhiotanga
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: My whānau and my pounamu reminds me of my whakapapa
Favourite childhood activity: Trampolining, ball games, lego
Aroha - Kaitiaki Tamariki
(Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāpuhi) (she/her)
Interests: I enjoy spending time with my whānau and friends. I’m also passionate about kapa haka, which is a big part of my identity and something I really value being involved in.
Something that connects me to te ao Māori: Kapa haka is a big part of what connects me to te ao Māori. Kapa haka is more than just performing, it’s about our reo, culture and being apart of something bigger. My whānau also played a big role in strengthening my connection to te ao Māori. Growing I went to kōhanga reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori which gave me a strong foundation in te reo Māori & tikanga Māori.
Favourite childhood activity: As a tamaiti, I loved being outside climbing trees, playing in the awa, or running barefoot with my siblings and cousins. Being in the taiao made me feel connected to the whenua, and those experiences helped me appreciate the taiao and understand the importance of caring for our whenua and awa.