Mereana Vaka
Diploma in Te Tohu Paetahi, Bachelor of Arts
Rangiamohia Dansey-White
Te Arawa, Ng膩ti Kahungunu, Ng膩puhi, Ng膩i Tahu, Tainui, Ng膩ti Maniapoto, Ng膩ti T奴wharetoa, Taranaki, Rongowhakaata
With a passion for te ao M膩ori and being in spaces that see change for the betterment of her people, Rangiamohia Dansey-White enrolled at the 糖心TV so she can enact positive change for M膩ori and improve race relations.
鈥淚 wanted to understand the systems that need to be disrupted and changed in order for M膩ori equity to flourish,鈥� Rangiamohia, 27, says.
After losing her tourism job due to Covid-19, Rangiamohia received Te Wai 弄 o T奴wharetoa Trust Scholarship and began her Bachelor of Arts degree.
鈥淚 chose Waikato because of its high calibre of M膩ori and Indigenous academics within Te Pua W膩nanga ki te Ao - Faculty of M膩ori and Indigenous Studies.
鈥淣ot only is the campus conveniently close to home (Rotorua), the classes I took allowed me to think outside the box and challenge my own thinking along the way.鈥�
The highlight of her study was taking part in the 2022 Te 膧hurutanga M膩ori Leadership Programme.
鈥淭his kaupapa provided so many experiences that I would never have thought were possible, engage in k艒rero that wouldn鈥檛 be provided in the lecture hall, as well as form some life-long friendships.鈥�
Rangiamohia isn鈥檛 ruling out postgraduate study, saying her ultimate goal is to work at the grassroots level or in the governance space.
