Nā Keshia Cleverly Karaitiana, Kaitūhono – Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, Te Whare Pukapuka, University of Waikato Library.
Ngāti Māhanga, Ngāti Te Wehi, Ngāi Tuahūriri, Ngāti Wheke, Ngāti Waewae
Would you believe it if I said I always knew I’d end up working in libraries? Yep, it all goes back to those days when I used to read to my little siblings on the doorstep. From teaching them waiata to sharing whakapapa with my whānau, it dawned on me—I’m like a living repository of stories and knowledge.
So, I dove into the Mātauranga Māori module, trying to figure out not just where my institute is right now, but also how we got here and what the whole story looks like. Turns out, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato has been a trailblazer, being the first anti-racist institute. The library has been making big moves to Indigenise Te Whare Pukapuka. We’ve got six new kaimahi on board, four of them absolute legends in Te Reo Māori. And, oh boy, the Mātangireia Collection is getting a serious facelift to undo years of colonial practices. Complete inventory and assessment? You bet.
We’ve been rocking cultural celebrations too—Pacific Language Weeks, Matariki, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Kīngitanga Day, and even Chinese Language Week. The cherry on top was hosting the inaugural Living Library in October. That was a wild ride.
The Te Tōtara Capability Framework – Te Pōu Tarawaho really hit home for me. It lays out this cool roadmap for personal and organisational growth, likening it to a seed growing into a kickass tree. The whole idea of using the ngahere (forest) as a story made things click for me.. What got me hooked was how they brought in the whole ngahere vibe to explain things in the library setting. It added this extra layer of richness to how we see things around here. It’s all about embracing the Te Aō Māori worldview, throwing in concepts like mahi raranga (weaving) and whaowhaohia i tō kete mātauranga (learning and growth). It’s like they’re giving us the tools to really connect with what we’re doing.
Now, as I hit the midway point in Whiria te tāngata, my cup is overflowing
Hui aa Tau was the perfect chance to link up with other librarians weaving the net of Te Aō Māori values. It’s not just about holding on to traditions; it’s about sustainability in the library world. And let me tell you, learning kupenga pounamu from Māmā C was like connecting with my whakapapa on a whole new level. It’s like, “show me, don’t just tell me,”You know? Holding those ancient taonga in my hands felt like grabbing onto a piece of history that sparked the greatest migration fleet to this land.
This journey is far from over, and I’m ready for whatever comes my way
Now, with the final modules on the horizon—Purapura Whetu, Data Research and Evidence, and Niho Taniwha—I’m buzzing with excitement. Bring on the growth, the challenges, and the learning.
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