The final episode of the Māori in Engineering podcast series, reflecting on He Kura Nā Rātā, He Kura Pūkaha is now live!

Episode 5: Amani Tilialo, Lupesina Koro, Ariana George and I have a kōrero on their reflections of the wānanga, serving as kaitūao, and their vision of what the future of engineering industry could look like as they walk with it. Tēnā rawa atu ki a rātou. 

Ariana, Amani, and Lupesina are all connected with SPIES at Taumata Waipapa Rau. The mahi SPIES does unmatched - read about it here

He waka kōtuia kāhore e tukutukua ngā mimira. A canoe that is interlaced, will never become loosened. In unity there is strength.

Episode 4: Craig Watson, Sarah Witts and I have a kōrero on their reflections of attending the wānanga as tangata tiriti, and what ‘getting serious about being tangata tiriti’ actually looks like. Ngā mihi ki a rāua.

Hei āpōpō for the final episode of this series sharing reflections, Episode 5!

Te Moana Nui a Kiwa Whakapukahatanga Ihi South Pacific Professional Engineering Excellence (Te Mana Kiwi SPPEEx) held the Dinner and Awards evening on the second night.

The hoe, carved from kauri rākau, were gifted to acknowledge;

• ​Tētēkura (Legacy) hoe bears intricate designs, signifying a legacy of profound influence. Pōua Gerry Te Kapa Coates.
• ​Te Ngaru Whakateo (Current) hoe features subtle detailing, reflecting the recipient’s growing impact. Dr Emily Afoa
• ​Te Kahu o te Wai (Emerging) hoe remains nearly unadorned, symbolising a career still in its early stages. Alyce Lysaght (me!)

Episode 3: Dr Emily Afoa and I have a kōrero following the awards. Tēnā koe Em.

We weren’t able to speak with Pōua Gerry Coates, engari, at the end of this episode I read out his award description that highlights his profound impact on the industry and his iwi of Ngāi Tahu, whānau hoki. I have no doubt the engineering industry we experience today is different because of these impacts. E rere kau ana ngā mihi ki a Pōua Gerry Coates.

More details of Te Mana Kiwi SPPEEx Awards and to read the blurb of Pōua Gerry Te Kapa Coates ⁠here⁠.

He Kura Nā Rātā, He Kura Pūkaha is a wānanga celebrating Māori in Engineering. In 2025, it was held over three days in Tāmaki Makaurau, hosted at Waipapa Taumata Rau. This five episode mini-series shares the reflections from the wānanga.

Rā tuatahi was all about exploring the past and present of Māori in Engineering. Hear from Mia Goodsell - Matthews, L'Rey Renata, and Mason Popata as they share their reflections following the first day.

More details of the Te Mana Kiwi SPPEEx and Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau held wānanga ⁠here⁠.

He Kura Nā Rātā, He Kura Pūkaha is a wānanga celebrating Māori in Engineering. In 2025, it was held over three days in Tāmaki Makaurau, hosted at Waipapa Taumata Rau. This five episode mini-series shares the reflections from the wānanga.

Hear from members of the organising rōpū - Wharehuia Dixon, Harota Lose, Deena Tapara, and Byron Konia - as they share whakaaro behind the intentional threads that weaved the wānanga together, their reflections, and where to from here.

Ko tēnei te mihi atu ki a rātou, and to the many others who helped bring this wānanga to life.

More details of the Te Mana Kiwi SPPEEx and Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau held wānanga ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Grace Walker (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngaruahine) and Jake Campbell (Te Rarawa) are the Founders of Tautoko Tech - a novel insulin pump with wrap around software support.  Their mission is to empower people with diabetes to live with confidence and ease from the moment of diagnosis. 

They share their journey from academia to entrepreneurship, meeting at a Māori and Indigenous Doctoral Conference and creating a product that combines engineering with an understanding of the communities they serve. A grounded conversation about the intersection of academia, engineering, and community. Enjoy e te whānau!

Byron Konia (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Dutch) shares his journey to now holding a dual role as a Senior Mechanical Engineer and Māori Advisor.

This episode was made possible by funding support from Te Ao Rangahau | Engineering New Zealand Grant Foundation 2023 Programme. The audio was edited by the awesome Jordan Greville from NZ Audio Editors. E mihi atu ana au ki a rātou.

To stay connected, follow on Instagram ⁠@maori_in_engineering.pod

Maria Ngawati (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Porou) is a Māmā, CEO of Indigishare, Te Taumata Wāhine in Tech 2024 trade delegate, and PhD candidate researching ways for indigenous support and advancement - and, so much more.

In this episode, she talks on the variety of mahi she’s involved in, brings the perspective of a Māmā to an engineering student going through university with his reo rangatira, and her experiences navigating and influencing systems for Māori to realise their magic.  Enjoy e te whānau.

This episode was made possible by funding support from Te Ao Rangahau | Engineering New Zealand Grant Foundation 2023 Programme. The audio was edited by the awesome Jordan Greville from NZ Audio Editors. E mihi atu ana au ki a rātou.

To stay connected, follow on Instagram @maori_in_engineering.pod

Kerin Brockbank (Te Rarawa) shares her story of working as a Reservoir Engineer in the geothermal space, the Wairākei geothermal power development’s impact, and her experience of being Māori in the engineering industry. Reservoir engineering is all about dealing with the stuff that’s harnessing the energy that is deep underground - getting up to 3 kilometres deep. I hope you enjoy Kerin’s really honest and informative kōrero. It opened my eyes to the world of reservoir engineering.

L'Rey Renata (Ngāpuhi, Tainui, Ngai Te Rangi) is a Māma, Water Engineer, PhD candidate, and Board Member in the engineering industry.

One year into her PhD at Waipapa Taumata Rau, she talks about her thinking of re-defining engineering best practice through an indigenous Te Ao Māori lense, the intention of her findings to be pillar for engineering professionals.

An absolute privilege to record another episode with L'Rey as she discusses her inherent approach of approaching problems holistically for the betterment of te taiao, hauora, and connection to the whenua and bringing everyone along in the journey.

For reference from the episode:

5 ways to access Māoritanga