The list of PhD supporters is long and varied including my Mum, wife, children, grandchildren; my whanaunga – aunties, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; my friends and colleagues; my supervisors, mentors and university support teams; and my fellow researchers. Researching requires continued encouragement, I require encouragement to be the best researcher I can. Each group of supporters provides different but distinctive help along my PhD journey. Let me share how my support network up-lifts my research.
Mum is the matriarchal link to our Nanny and NannyPa, our living link to our tūpuna. Mum continues to look after our wairua, our tikanga Māori needs.
Marie-Louise, our children – Ken, Ria, Steve and our mokopuna – Logan, Alex and Jade continue to support a new way of life to allow my journey.
Dr Hēmi Whaanga, my chief supervisor, so knowledgable in the exploration into the AI unknown; Dr Te Kahautu Maxwell, alongside Mum, Cousin Dudu looks after wairua and Whakatōheatanga; Dr Te Taka Keegan, alongside his team and network of IT researchers provides the aspiration and motivation to continue the work of Māori in the field of AI; Dr Tahu Kukutai and Maui Hudson whose supportive voices will carry my academic vision through to reality.
Structures of support within Te Whare Wananga o Waikato:
MAI ki Waikato and Te Toi o Matariki Māori Graduate Excellence Programme, Fellow Māori PhD and Masters researchers, research being conducted by Māori, with Māori and for Māori;
Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao – the Faculty of Māori & Indigenous Studies, providing research support, internationally recognised experts and Indigenous leadership;
Student Learning Support Programme actively supporting higher degree students;
The Education Academic Liaison and Librarian staff; the Information and Technology Services who are only a call away.
Te Kupenga o MIA
The Māori and Indigenous programme (MAI) is for the enhancement of Māori and Indigenous post-graduate students throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
MAI Groups General
- MAI ki Tāmaki
- MAI ki Aronui
- MAI ki Waikato
- MAI ki Awanuiārangi
- MAI ki Manawatū
- MAI ki Pōneke
- MAI ki Waitaha | Canterbury
- MAI ki Ōtautahi – Lincoln
- MAI ki Otago
- MAI Ki Te Tai Tokerau
- MAI ki Wairaka
MIA ki Manawatū – Te Wheke a Toi
Monica Koia, Ina Te Wiata and Graham Smith, administrators, coordinators of Te Wheke a Toi, providing programmes to support a stimulating and nurturing environment for Māori researchers
Referees – Nihi Houia, Apryll Parata, Elaina Hershowitz and Chris Dibben who still follow my journey eagerly;
Extended whānau network, which is very, very large, always offering manaaki;
and finally; te uri o Patumoana raua ko Raikete Amoamo research whānau
AI connecting our Whānau 