As a new tertiary year begins, the University of Otago will be without one of its influential staff members who has contributed to improving tertiary experiences for Māori students.
Pearl Matahiki Photo: Supplied / University of Otago
For the past 20 years, Pearl Matahiki, known as "Aunty Pearl" has been a stalwart at the university.
Her contribution to Māori tertiary success and growth has been highly regarded, with a spokesperson from the university saying "she has pushed for more inclusion of Māori in all parts of the University, from student support to academics and marketing.
"Many past and present students call her Aunty Pearl and are keen to give her a cuddle and fill her in on what has been going on in their lives whenever they see her."
When Matahiki first arrived to Otago there was minimal support for tauira Māori and an absence of spaces for them to thrive and belong.
At the time there were only 600 to 800 students enrolled on the Māori student role and many students had not identified their whakapapa as tauira Māori.
But since helming the position of Tūmuaki of Te Huka Mātauraka, the Māori centre at the Otago campus, Matahiki said there had not only been an increase in students on the Māori roll but there had been a growth in Māori achievement and academics.
Matahiki said building an environment at the south island campus where tauira could feel supported and succeed in tertiary education had always been a focus while at the university.
"I think I really focused on encouraging our students to be successful if they came here. They earned their right here.
"I think a lot of them felt that when they came, they weren't sure if they were in the right place, and I had to get into their minds that they earned their place here like every other student."
In a report by the Ministry of Education about Māori education it was stated that "Māori are not fully included within our education system - research has confirmed that teacher bias and low expectations are significant issues in New Zealand and that this has a significant impact on Māori".
Māori student success has been central to Matahiki's work.
Pearl at one of the many Māori pre-Graduation ceremonies she has attended. Photo: Supplied / University of Otago
She said it was about encouraging and embracing students by teaching them to uphold their whakapapa at university.
"There are a lot of students that come here and they take a journey of their whakapapa. I remind them that it's easier to get a degree than learn about your whakapapa/ genealogy because you're taking your entire family back on a journey that may have been filled with sadness."
Tūmuaki takirua from Te Mana Ākonga The National Māori students association, Nkhayer Paulson-More said barriers such as a lack of student engagement and relationships as well as racism had been present in student experiences.
"I think tauira Māori need good tuakana in their institutions, people that they know who have gone through the system who they're able to turn to for more help, that might look like a Māori student support service that's clearly visible and easily accessible," More said.
What next for Matakihi?
Matahiki still carried a passion for encouraging whānau and tauira to undertake tertiary education and for changing the way tertiary institutions operate.
She wanted to see further inclusion and representation across all areas of tertiary campuses both in the lecture rooms and amongst staff.
"I've always said it's because we actually see the success of Māori staff and students. I'm sure there's not many jobs around the country where you see the success of Māori achievement."
Matahiki will be leaving Otago to return north to retire. She said she was looking forward to taking some time off, but said she would miss the students and the young minds.
She was looking forward to hearing where her tauira end up in the world.
"I hope I've made a difference. To name one is to ensure the centre is renowned as a leading indigenous tauira support model within tertiary and 'whānau on campus' that makes a difference for students, their whānau, hapū, iwi and the current staff.
"I think there's enough of the good, and you see the success at the end that has made it worthwhile and I've loved it. I think if anything I've really enjoyed my job. If I didn't, I would have left long ago - even though the students can drive you crazy."
The university shared this mihi for Matahiki as she embarked on her next endeavours - "E te Mareikura, te pou herenga waka, kua kitea ō mahi nui e te ao, o te iwi Māori".