He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Hāua, nō Ngā Ruahine, nō Ngāpuhi, nō Ngāti Kahungunu. Ki te taha o tōku māmā he uri ahau nō Tamatea-Pokai-Whenua.

I whānau mai au, ā, ka tipu ake au i Taumarunui. Nā konei, ko Ruapehu tōku maunga, ko Whanganui tōku awa.

I ako ahau ki Te Kunenga o Pūrehuroa i te Mātauranga Māori me te Mātauranga Tikanga Tangata (Social Anthropology).

Raniqua Pokaiwhenua-Renata wants to contribute to the development and protection of Māori, whānau and the whenua.

Originally from Taumarunui, Raniqua recently completed her degree in Mātauranga Māori and Social Anthropology at Massey University.

Along with 15 other interns, she was part of the latest cohort to gain valuable work experience through the annual three-month Te Puni Kōkiri Summer Internship Programme. She worked in the Progressive Procurement team within the Policy and Partnerships Puni at Te Puni Kōkiri national office, Te Tari Matua, in Pōneke during the Summer of 2022.

“Tāngata, and tāngata Māori is what I am passionate about. I wanted to come into a workspace that is driven by Māori and for Māori.”

Te Puni Kōkiri has run its Summer Internship Programme annually since 2015. It enables interns to get work experience relevant to their studies along with a firm grounding in kaupapa Māori at our national or regional offices.

The internships support our strategic priorities of continuing to grow a skilled Māori workforce and improving equitable and effective public sector performance for Māori.

Raniqua has worked on a range of mahi and projects, including travelling across Aotearoa to meet and engage with Māori business owners.

“It was inspiring to see Māori making their kaupapa their own mahi, and being a part of the team here supporting their businesses to prosper.

“I’ve also helped with the Māori business verification database, as well as taking an active interest in the outcome frameworks of a kaimahi development programme.”

She has many aspirations for the future particularly around strengthening her reo Māori as well as learning more about te Ao Māori and wairua Māori.

Raniqua said she will continue building a career where she can contribute to the development and protection of Māori, whānau and the whenua.

“This internship – particularly the people around me - has added a lot to my kete, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.”

Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou, whaowhia te kete mātauranga

 

We welcome interns from all backgrounds who have diverse perspectives, innovative ideas and a passion for improving outcomes for Māori to enable thriving whānau. Email info@tpk.govt.nz for further details.