Te Huinga Tauira

About our kaupapa

Te Huinga Tauira is the annual National Māori Students’ Conference where tertiary students gather to discuss and debate topical issues, participate in cultural and sporting activities, and raise awareness about some of the issues that impact on Māori students at tertiary institutions, and within the wider community. Te Huinga Tauira is also an opportunity for Māori students to nurture and maintain their cultural identity, access social and support networks outside of their institutions, and participate in activities that enhance, and add value to, their experiences within the context of their learning.

Te Huinga Tauira ki Waikato 2025

"He piko he taniwha, he piko he tauira"

Te Huinga Tauira ki Waikato was our 2025 national conference, hosting of over 280 tauira Māori from universities across Aotearoa, celebrating Māori excellence, connection, and leadership in tertiary education. Proudly co-hosted by Te Waiora and Te Mana Ākonga. Together on Waikato whenua our tauira shared kōrero, strengthened whanaungatanga, and continued the kaupapa of empowering Māori student voices, united in kotahitanga.

Our Aim

The aim of Te Huinga Tauira is to unite Māori tertiary students from across Aotearoa in a space that celebrates culture, fosters leadership, and strengthens identity and belonging. It provides opportunities for tauira Māori to connect, learn, and grow through wānanga, cultural expression, and advocacy - empowering them to succeed academically, develop as future leaders, and contribute positively to their whānau, hapū, iwi, and wider Māori communities.

Our Kaupapa

Hakinakina

Sports Day is a high-energy, action-packed event where all rōpū go head-to-head in a spirit of friendly rivalry, unity, and pride. Tauira Māori compete across a range of games and activities included chants, kī-o-rahi, basketball, netball, and turbo touch. Showcasing not only athletic skill but teamwork, passion, and mana.

Manu Kōrero

Manu Kōrero at Te Huinga Tauira showcases the oratory excellence, whakaaro Māori, and leadership of tauira Māori from across Aotearoa. Each rōpū is represented by three speakers: one delivering a prepared speech in te reo Māori, one in English, and one Māori Tēne speaker.

In 2025, competitors engaged with powerful and thought-provoking themes. The English topic, “Climbing the ladder, losing the view,” invited reflection on ambition, success, and perspective, while the Māori topic, “Mai i te Kore, ki te Pō, ki te Ao Mārama,” explored origins, transformation, and emergence through a Māori worldview. Together, Manu Kōrero creates a space where language, identity, and whakaaro collide, uplifting the voices of tauira and strengthening inter-rōpū whanaungatanga.

Iwi Offs

Iwi Offs are a high-energy and deeply meaningful highlight of Te Huinga Tauira, inspired by the concept of a riff-off but grounded in whakapapa and tikanga. During Iwi Offs, tauira step away from their rōpū and return to their roots, grouping together by iwi and rohe to perform iwi anthems, haka, and waiata alongside others from the same areas.

This space creates powerful moments of connection, enabling tauira to meet new whānau, strengthen shared identity, and build long-lasting relationships grounded in whakapapa, pride, and collective belonging.

Careers Expo

Our Careers Expo provided Māori tauira with direct access to pathways, opportunities, and inspiration beyond their studies. The expo featured four interactive workshops designed to build practical skills, explore career options, and support tauira as they transition into the workforce. Alongside this, two panellists shared their personal journeys, insights, and advice, offering tauira real-world perspectives on leadership, resilience, and navigating professional spaces as Māori. The open Careers Expo brought together over 25 businesses and organisations from across Aotearoa, creating meaningful opportunities for networking, relationship-building, and future employment. Together, these elements created an engaging, supportive environment that empowered tauira to explore diverse career pathways while remaining grounded in their cultural identity.

Annual General Meeting

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) brings together all rōpū to reflect on the year that has been and to collectively shape the direction ahead. During the AGM, each of our associations Tumuaki present their annual report, alongside Te Mana Ākonga’s yearly report and a review of the organisation’s financial statements YTD, ensuring transparency and accountability. The hui also provides an opportunity to highlight and discuss key kaupapa affecting Māori tauira nationwide and to celebrate the collective mahi of the past year. A core part of the AGM is the election of the new kōmiti, where members vote to determine the leadership team who will guide Te Mana Ākonga into 2026.

Kapa haka

is a day where the mana, creativity, and wairua of Māori performing arts shine. On this much-anticipated gathering of Te Huinga Tauira, each rōpū steps onto the stage to share a kapa haka bracket they have composed, nurtured, and perfected over the year. It is the fruit of months of mahi, collective effort, and passion, a space where the taonga of our tauira Māori can be celebrated. Our alumni return as judges, offering whakaaro and feedback, ensuring that this event is more than a competition - it is a wāhi of growth, connection, and a showcase of the pride our tauira hold for their culture.