NPM E-PĀNUI WHIRINGA-Ā-RANGI | NOVEMBER 2025

E ngā kaipupuri mātauranga – tēnā rawa atu koutou. I have been reflecting on my first year as Pou Matarua and the enormous privilege it has been to work alongside Tahu, the NPM secretariat, our Kāhui Ārahi and the many affiliated researchers, kaimahi and hapori members who exemplify our overarching kaupapa of Flourishing Māori Futures. NPM’s important mahi wouldn’t come to fruition if everyone wasn’t actually on the waka and paddling in the same direction! As such, I am taking the liberty of using some space in this last e-pānui of 2025 to say “e mihi nunui ana ki a koutou katoa”. I acknowledge and appreciate all of the contributions you make - ahakoa he iti, he pounamu.
 
I would also like to celebrate some of the NPM affiliated kairangahau who have recently received due acknowledgement for their stella mahi. At the end of this e-panui we have acknowledged Professor Tahu Kukutai, Dr Reuben Collier, Helena Abolins-Thompson and Dr Apriel Jolliffe Simpson, Paora Moyle and Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Taurite Tū Limited and Dr Angelique Reweti. We also mihi to other awardees who have been rightfully acknowledged for their contributions to your discipline, organisations, communities and hapū/iwi. Ka tika me mihi tēnei ki a koutou katoa ngā ringa raupā o ngā kaupapa hakahirahira nei.
 
Four NPM kaimahi have just returned from Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka in Ōtepoti where we had the pleasure of watching a range of Indigenous students talk about their completed, in-progress and just started PhD projects. We were blessed to hear 3, 7 and 10 minute presentations in both te reo Māori and English – and also had the pleasure of listening to our relations from Australia, Hawaii and the Pacific who also talked to us about the research aspirations and kaupapa. The MAI Hui-ā-Tau was expertly organised by Rachel Sizemore, Professor Karyn Paringatai and a fabulous group of Ōtākou kaimahi. Nei waku haumihi ki a rātou!
 
Finally, I want to wish everyone a restful, relaxed and safe summer break with whānau. We look forward to catching up with everyone again in 2026! Kia pai ō koutou wā whakatā.
 
Aku mihi nui,

Melinda and Tahu
Ngā Pou Matarua | Co-Directors