{"id":810102,"date":"2026-09-01T08:00:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T08:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/?p=810102"},"modified":"2026-08-31T22:30:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T22:30:07","slug":"university-of-otago-rapa-nui","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/university-of-otago-rapa-nui\/","title":{"rendered":"K\u0101hui Ki Te Pito o Te Henua: University Delegation to Te Pito o Te Henua"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u014ct\u0101kou Whakaihu Waka, the University of Otago, has sent a delegation to Rapa Nui which was made possible through the prestigious New Zealand Prime Minister’s Group Scholarship, awarded to support international learning and strengthen relationships across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. More than a study trip, however, this initiative represents the continuation of a relationship built on trust, reciprocity, and a shared commitment to Indigenous knowledge and community engagement. <\/p>\n\n

The project is led by Dr Moira Fortin, Senior Lecturer at Languages and Cultures, and Dr Esther Willing (K\u014dhatu \u2013 Centre for Hauora M\u0101ori), and grew out of a month-long collaboration in Rapa Nui in November 2024. During that time, Otago staff met with local artists, educators, health practitioners, archaeologists, and community leaders, exploring the intersections of performing arts, Indigenous health, cultural heritage, and language revitalisation. The experience demonstrated the value of bringing together diverse knowledge systems and inspired the creation of a broader educational programme for students. <\/p>\n\n

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In June 2026, a delegation of eight University of Otago students\u2014supported by four academics representing Languages and Cultures, Hauora M\u0101ori<\/a>, Te Tumu, and Archaeology\u2014travelled to Rapa Nui to continue this collaborative journey. Living with local host families, participating in community activities, and engaging in a series of public conversations and workshops, the delegation sought to learn alongside the rapa nui community rather than simply study it. <\/p>\n\n

At the heart of the programme was the belief that meaningful international education is founded on relationships. By creating opportunities for dialogue between M\u0101ori, Rapa Nui, and other Pacific perspectives<\/a>, the project aimed to strengthen whanaungatanga (relationship building) across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa while fostering enduring partnerships that will continue to benefit both the University of Otago and the rapa nui community. <\/p>\n\n

The students and professors have been learning a lot on this journey and have felt the care from the locals in Rapa Nui. For many of our tauira, it was less about furthering their degrees or research, it was about building connections between whakapapa, t\u0101ngata, wairua, and m\u0101tauranga (Indigenous knowledge). <\/p>\n\n

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Testimonials from the University of Otago Delegation<\/h2>\n\n

Pam Conway, Pharmacy student (Honours)<\/strong>: \u201cRapa Nui feels like home. I loved the kindness of strangers who quickly became wh\u0101nau. Four languages, at times no translator, still we understood each other, laughed together, and made a real connection. I arrived curious, I\u2019ll leave with a full heart.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Wiremu Ngawati, Physical Education student<\/strong>: \u201cRapa Nui was an incredibly eye opening experience for me. Seeing how Rapa Nui m\u0101tauranga is woven into everyday teaching reinforced the importance of cultural identity in education. The traditional games and competitions still practised today as forms of cultural expression show us how culture can strengthen both hauora (health) and physical activity.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

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Agustina Gonz\u00e1lez, Medical student<\/strong>: \u201cI\u2019m a medical student committed to deepening my understanding of Indigenous health and worldviews. The sharing of knowledge and lived experiences by both groups has strengthened my understanding of the determinants of health for Indigenous groups and will support my journey to providing culturally safe healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Sammi Ammar, Physiotherapy student<\/strong>: \u201cI have loved connecting and meeting so many of the amazing people here in Rapa Nui. I have loved connecting with the languages here through conversations with locals and learning about the rich history the island has. I came into this experience with an open mindset to connect with the people here and build onto this and I feel like this has worked really well over my last few weeks here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Ariana Davis, student of Law and Indigenous Development<\/strong>: \u201cThe first thing I learnt in rapa nui was the meaning of my name. Te reo o ariana is the call of the moa (chicken) after their king dies. This grounded my experience from the very beginning and has been a beautiful way to connect to rapa nui culture.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Te Puawai Hill-Moana, PhD Candidate in Genetics M\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori<\/strong>: One of my favourite koorero was, \u201cWe\u2019re one henua separated by vaikava. We\u2019re the same but also different.\u201d Strengthening our hononga is the beautiful outcome of this haerenga. So, what I\u2019ll cherish the most is the ha\u014ba rahi from my whaanau. Kei taku mama raatou ko aku teina, e kore te aroha e mimiti.\u201d whaanau. Kei taku mama raatou ko aku teina, e kore te aroha e mimiti.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n

Te Awhina Brundell, master’s student in Peace and Conflict Studies<\/strong>: \u201cThis experience has expanded me in the most beautiful of ways. My favourite part has been in the connection between our histories, our stories and our languages. It becomes impossible to deny our shared identity as one people. He hononga tangata t\u0113 taea te wetewete. Ko te here o te aroha e mau roa e.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n

Ollie Ihaka-Gudsell, student of Law and Indigenous Development<\/strong>: \u201cNei r\u0101 te mihi ki a koutou k\u0101toa e te h\u0101pori Rapa Nui. Every rainy or sunny day, every experience, and every story and connection has been special. My experience has connected me to the people of Rapa Nui and to my own whakapapa. Ki t\u014dku wh\u0101nau Rapa Nui, whai mai t\u014d taonga, whai mai t\u014d v\u0101nanga.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n

Dra. Wahineata Smith, senior lecturer of Te Reo M\u0101ori <\/strong>: \u201cI am overwhelmed with gratitude to be in Rapa Nui. I feel a deep sense of belonging and connection to Te Pito o Te Henua. I was fortunate to be hosted by a tupuna rapa nui and to learn some rapa nui language, nehe nehe te re’o o te henua nei. ‘Iorana k\u014drua te ta’ina <\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n

Dr. Zac McIvor, senior lecturer of Archaeology<\/strong>: \u201cI have been blown away by the hospitality of the rapa nui people. Everyone has been so open and interested to connect and I am very grateful for the new friends I have made. I have learned a lot about the incredible archaeological landscapes here and the significant challenges that face the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

N\u014d reira, \u00abHe aha te mea nui o te ao, he t\u0101ngata, he t\u0101ngata, he t\u0101ngata.”<\/em> What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people. M\u0101uru-uru e Te Pito o Te Henua, ka kite an\u014d we will see you again. <\/p>\n\n

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\u014ct\u0101kou Whakaihu Waka, the University of Otago, has sent a delegation to Rapa Nui which was made possible through the prestigious New Zealand Prime Minister’s Group Scholarship, awarded to support international learning and strengthen relationships across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. More than a study trip, however, this initiative represents the continuation of a relationship […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":810133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[130,122],"tags":[236,235,153,234],"class_list":["post-810102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-polynesian-culture","category-rapa-nui-culture","tag-indigenous-knowledge","tag-polynesian-culture","tag-rapa-nui-en","tag-university-oh-otago"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/810102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=810102"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/810102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":810143,"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/810102\/revisions\/810143"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/810133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=810102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=810102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moevarua.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=810102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}