Māori and Pacific students

Our Tuākana tutoring and mentoring programme is designed to help Māori and Pacific students achieve the best possible grades via tutorials, workshops, study groups and sessions with tutors and mentors. Tuākana (senior students) and teina (newer students) work together to achieve these results.

Increased support and encouragement

• Stage 1 and 2 Psychology Tuākana Laboratories.
• Tutors/mentors throughout the semester to assist with lab reports, psychology-related problems and other minor dramas.
• Revision sessions for tests and exams.

Increased communication and access to resources

• The Kohanga and Potu are student spaces solely for Māori and Pacific students in Psychology, in the Human Sciences Building on Level 6. The Kohanga is HSB 663 and Potu is HSB 602.
• Kitchen facilities are in both rooms.
• Access to a personal library of Stage 1, 2 and 3 text books and other useful reading material, as well as computer and printing facilities.
• Facebook page, and a CECIL group for Māori and Pacific students only.

Increased networks

• Get to know more students and make friends at your own level and above.
• A Kaupapa Māori Lecturer (Erana Cooper) to discuss anything related to Māori and Psychology.

Increased enjoyment and opportunity to succeed

• Overall, student pass rates for mentored Māori and Pacific students in Stage 1 Psychology are higher than those of non-mentored students.
• Students are more conncted and find the University experience more enjoyable.
• Students have immediate access to scholarship information and other opportunities.
   

Sepi Seuala

Email: sfou010@aucklanduni.ac.nz
Office Hour: All day Tuesday, Room HSB608

The best thing about the Tuākana programme is the invaluable support and guidance you get along the journey of your University degree. Also the long-lasting friendships, abundant resources and overall general help you get from the programme are guaranteed to get you successfully through your degree. Having just completed my degree I understand the struggles that come with tertiary studies but I also understand what it takes in order to succeed and with this experience. I want to help you on your path to furthering yourself and becoming the successful Māori and Pacific contributors you are all meant to be!

Each year level also has their own Tuākana to help you. If you don't know who your Tuākana is, or you would like to get in touch with one, send us an email and we can help.
 

In 2012 the Psychology Tuākana Programme celebrated their 10 year anniversary of running. Throughout this time the number of Māori and Pacific students studying Psychology has risen from 40 to 400! We decided to profile some of our past students as part of the celebrations. Check out the profiles here.

There is also a network of postgraduate Māori and Pacific students studying in the various areas of Psychology; from clinical to developmental and organisational. Many of these students are connected with the Māori and Pacific Psychology Research Group.

Find more information
 

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