Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association - Te Aka Tauira

30 September 2022

After months of hard work, last night at the Ngāi Tauira AGM, a resolution was passed to formally gift VUWSA a new Te Reo Māori Name – Te Aka Tauira.

The tikanga of ‘Te Aka Tauira’ represents VUWSA as the strong vine which binds tauira with the different facets of student life and the student experience at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. ‘Aka’ refers to the parent vine that Tāwhaki used to climb up to the heavens.

In partnership with Ngāi Tauira, this name was developed and proposed by our tauira Māori through a series of wānanga, workshops and consultation with the Ngāi Tauira membership.

To recognise the gifting of this taonga, the VUWSA President exchanged taonga, on behalf of the Association, with the Ngāi Tauira Tumuaki takirua, the Komiti Whakahaere, and tauira Māori. While VUWSA has more to do to properly uphold Te Tiriti and work in genuine partnership with Ngāi Tauira and tauira Māori, the exchanging of this taonga strengthens our partnership and further embed accountability. With the gifting of a new name comes the responsibility of understanding, upholding and respecting the mana and tikanga which surrounds it - and it will be on VUWSA, with the authority of the Tumuaki Tuarua, to ensure this is done, today and in the future. 

VUWSA will now begin the process to transition to the use of Te Aka Tauira and official launch will take place during O-Week 2023.

Nga mihi nui Ngāi Tauira and tauira Māori. Kia kaha Te Aka Tauira.