Eke Panuku – Time to take a bow

_{Marge Carran (Ngāti Haua) receives her Te Hokianga – Transformation award at Eke Panuku 2022}

“This is a moment to be proud, not humble,” Hemi Hoskins – Ara’s Director of Māori Achievement encouraged ākonga, gathered in front of their whānau and kaiako for this year’s Eke Panuku.

As the audience heard, the students have reason to be proud of themselves in many ways. For rising to challenges, overcoming obstacles and adversity, breaking new ground, and striving for more for themselves and their whānau.

The annual Eke Panuku awards are designed to bring students, staff, whānau and community together to recognise and celebrate that commitment, progression and excellence in the classroom and the community.

This year the event was aligned with the sentiments of Ara’s Framework for Māori Achievement – key to that being “whānau transformation through education agency and enterprise.”

In all, 44 awards were awarded across eight departments.

To mark the occasion the students received either a pounamu niho (tooth) or roimata (teardrop) carved by George Campbell from Kāti Waewae, Arahura Pā. Niho - thought to represent strength leadership and resilience and Roimata - the flow of positive energy, healing comfort and strength on the journey through life.

_{Images from the 2022 Eke Panuku awards}

Hoskins says one of the most powerful things to observe in many Māori students is how their journey through Ara can bring so much more than increased knowledge in the subjects they enrol in.

“It’s rewarding to see that students find a place they can grow, in themselves, in their identity and in their recognition of their wider impacts and contributions, each of their successes helps build positive momentum, gets the waka moving faster and takes people further,“ he says.

One of three recipients of the premier Te Hokinga – Transformation Awards is someone who has had that experience.

Marge Carran (Ngāti Haua), who has achieved her Bachelor of Social Work was described as someone who embodies manaakitanga and whanaungatanga supporting other students – but who has undertaken a massive personal journey of transformation as a mana wahine during her studies.

“One of the hardest things (other than assignments) was putting myself forward for challenges I didn't feel ready for,” she said. “I had to work hard on myself to appreciate who I am, seeing my historic convictions as an asset, overcoming my anxieties about public speaking and dropping out of high school, and starting to connect more with my Māori culture.”

Another student to be recognised with the Te Hokinga award was Nikita Turner (Ngāpuhi) who is completing her New Zealand certificate in Study and Career Preparation Support Work with a view to further study in social work.

_{Nikita Turner (Ngāpuhi) celebrates her Te Hokinga award with her mum}

Turner was celebrated for many things, among them her determination to overcome the barriers she faces as a learner with visual impairment, her resilience and maturity beyond her age and her determination to make a difference for others.

“I’m really proud of myself,” she said. “Especially to make my mark this way in only my first semester – it’s a really good feeling.”

Feeling the pride. Eke Panuku creates the time, place and occasion to do just that.

More photos of the event can be found here.