Registration is required.

Location: Te Herenga Waka Marae and Breakaway rooms (identified below)

Event Outline: Inspired by recent scholarship about the lack of Māori and Pasifika academics on permanent contracts in universities in Aotearoa, we have turned the reflective lens onto ourselves and our university Te Herenga Waka. In line with the ‘Decolonisation Hub at Victoria University of Wellington’s overarching aim to explore and implement what it means to decolonise teaching and learning at higher education institutions, this hui aims to raise consciousness regarding the importance of equitable inclusion of Māori and Pacific permanent academic staff at Te Herenga Waka and elicit action that will contribute to systemic change.

The event begins with a framing provocation from Dr. Sereana Naepi from the Sociology programme at the University of Auckland and the lead researcher for the ‘Why Isn’t My Professor Pasifika?’ project and Ms. Hine Funaki, a doctoral candidate from Te Kura Māori, Te Herenga Waka whose research focuses on the postgraduate experience. Together in dialogue they outline why such a conversation is urgently needed along three key lines of inquiry: Institutional culture (effects it has on Māori and Pacific experiences, institutional spaces); the role of mentorship (examples of pivotal moments supervisors are more than mentors- mentor and sponsor); and Intentional pathway through (shift to systemic change). These three themes then carry over into the remainder workshop part of the day, where we collectively work towards adressing concrete ways to bring about structural change on our campuses. Participants will choose one of these workshops, and then reconvene together for a chance to hear reports back from all workshop groups and discuss what implications and future directions this gives us at THW.

Schedule of Day:

9.50am Gather at the Waharoa

10:00am Mihi whakatau and welcome by Dr. Liana Macdonald

10:30am Opening keynote by Ms. Hine Funaki and Dr. Sereana Naepi

11:20am Morning tea

11:45am Guests depart marae

12:00 – 1:00 Three workshops – details below

1:00 – 2:00 Lunch (AM 102 and AM 104)

2:00 – 2:45 Collective group feedback and witness testimonies – Details below

2:45 – 3:00 Afternoon tea and closing note

* Childcare options provided. Please watch your email for details and to confirm.

** If you register for a particular workshop and we reach capacity for that workshop, we will be in touch to request that you attend one of the other two options.

Workshop Details

12:00 – 1:00: Three workshops (Rooms AM 101, 103, LT105)

o Workshop 1: Intentional Pathways for Systemic Change – Strategic and Cluster Hiring

Location – AM 101

This workshop will explore various efforts to increase Māori and Pasifika permanent academic staff via strategic hires and cluster hires. We will be able to hear from those who have been involved in such initiatives what has worked, what they would do differently, and what they learned along the way. We will explore what this means for learning and action here at THW.

o Workshop 2: Micro-Practices and Institutional Cultures: From Job Calls to Post-Interview Discussions

Location – AM 103

Every stage of the hiring process – from job advertisement phrasing to committee membership making appointment decisions – contributes to attrition in Māori and Pasifika applicants. This workshop will help identify key aspects of these various stages that can be modified to ensure more Māori and Pasifika staff are ultimately hired and choose to work here.

o Workshop 3: Mentoring and Recognition: Supporting Early-Career Academics

Location – AM LT105

This workshop will explore the ways that mentoring and other initiatives that work to support postgraduates and new staff can contribute to increased recruitment and retention. We will be able to hear from those who have been involved in such initiatives what has worked, what they would do differently, and what they learned along the way. We will explore what this means for learning and action here at THW.

Collective Group Feedback and Senior Management Accountability Statement

2:00 – 2:45

Location - AM 102 and 104

This last collective session allows us to come together as a larger group and share feedback from each of the workshops. We will end this session with a request for an accountability statement from our senior management. We have nominated 2 volunteers in each workshop to listen attentively throughout the day, not to speak, just listen- and report back at the end of the day what they learnt from the workshop and what they think are the next steps to elicit action. The witnesses act as conduits between senior management and workshop participants, encourage careful listening and then acting on what is heard.